Pubdate: Sun, 08 Nov 2015
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Jon Willing & Matt Day
Page: 2

POT DISPENSARY ALL THE BUZZ

Business Is an 'Open Secret' In Neighbourhood, Councillor Says

 From the outside, the OMD looks like a pharmacy or some kind of 
medical office.

You wouldn't be able to tell just by looking at the Carling Ave. 
business that inside are multiple strands of medicinal marijuana.

The Ottawa Medical Dispensary is the city's first walk-in medical pot shop.

The owners, Franco Vigile and Shaddy Abboud, say it's a legal 
business in an ever-changing landscape.

"We're keeping a close eye on all legalities and following the rules 
as much as we can," Abboud said.

The two men spent four months researching and based their business 
off of the British Columbia model in accordance with dispensary licensing.

There is no advertising indicating marijuana is inside.

The business is more than 300 metres away from schools and community 
centres. Security measures such as bars on the windows, an 
"expensive" surveillance system and industrial locks are used.

The men buy their product from Marijuana Medical Access Regulations 
licenced growers.

When people walk into the business, they step into a modern-looking 
waiting room where a receptionist will help guide them.

Only those with a doctors' prescription or Health Canada 
qualification are allowed to enter the actual dispensary area.

"We just want to offer safe and timely access to medical cannabis," 
said Vigile.

"We believe the current model is Shaddy Abboud, left, and Franco 
Vigile are co-owners of the Ottawa Medical Dispensary, the city's 
first dedicated medical marijuana walk-in shop. not ideal."

As it stands right now for Ottawa residents, people get their 
prescription and sometimes have to wait weeks to receive their 
supplies in the mail.

Abboud said they aren't worried a Liberal government's decision to 
legalize marijuana to be used recreationally would hurt their budding business.

"We'll leave it up to the federal government to decide and at that 
time we will revisit it," Vigile said.

Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper said he's aware of the dispensary and 
has visited to chat with the owners.

"There's no issue around the zoning for them. The zoning permits it," 
Leiper said.

Leiper said he also talked with residents who live in the area and no 
one has raised a concern. It's simply an "open secret" the dispensary 
is there, he said.

"I don't have a sense there is any safety concern around the 
operation," Leiper said.

Leiper said he's curious to see what comes of the business.

"At this point the operation is between them and the criminal justice 
system," Leiper said. "I don't oppose."

Ottawa Medical Dispensary's Franco Vigile

The city is taking a hands-off approach since there's nothing 
happening that contravenes municipal regulations.

Matthew Graham of the city's building inspection and enforcement 
division said bylaw services have not received any calls for the 
property and building code services has not been involved with the building.

"The dispensing of medical marijuana is a federally regulated 
matter," Graham said.

There are other businesses in Ottawa that target medical marijuana 
users, but none are advertised as a place to actually acquire pot.

For example, National Access Canada, which also opened recently in 
Leiper's ward, offers consulting services for people accessing 
Canada's medical marijuana program.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom