Pubdate: Thu, 12 Nov 2015
Source: Alberni Valley News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Alberni Valley News
Contact:  http://www.albernivalleynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4247
Author: Katya Slepian

POT DISPENSARY CAN STAY: CITY COUNCIL

A divided city council made a choice to regulate and licence medical 
marijuana dispensaries on Monday, meaning WeeMedical on Third Avenue 
can stay open.

The decision came two weeks after WeeMedical opened its doors in Port 
Alberni's Uptown.

"Other towns have had marijuana dispensaries open up and they're 
getting themselves way behind the eight ball trying to catch up," 
said Coun. McLeman.

"I would like to see Port Alberni be proactive and control if they 
become legal where they are and if they're not legal, get rid of them 
in the end."

The medical dispensary currently operates outside of the law as 
stated in a letter sent from RCMP inspector Mac Richards to the business.

McLeman's biggest concern was that without regulation, other 
dispensaries would try to move into buildings near schools and other 
youth facilities.

Coun. Sharie Minions agreed.

"I feel that zoning is a part of our mandate," said Minions.

"It shouldn't be on the municipal agenda but it is a problem in our 
community. If we wait it will probably just get worse and worse and 
worse by the time the federal government does something about it."

Coun. Chris Alemany felt like it was time to take up the slack where 
the federal government had failed.

"It's clear that the legislation federally has not caught up with 
society and we're faced to deal with that mess."

Alemany added that while there is "no argument that it is illegal" 
and added that regardless of whether the marijuana at WeeMedical is 
being sold recreationally or medicinally, regulation is a must.

"I think if we're open with ourselves we know that WeeMedical is just 
selling recreational marijuana... and I don't much care."

(Operator Justin Liu later refuted the comment, stating that "we sell 
medical marijuana, not recreational.")

Council voted 5-2 for city staff to come up with recommendations on 
how to zone and regulate marijuana dispensaries.

Liu said he was pleased with the decision.

"I'm really impressed at the forward thinking leadership of city 
council. They have listened to the public and their need for 
medicinal marijuana," Liu said. "WeeMedical is proud and excited to 
work with the city and fall under any and every guideline they set."

Coun. Denis Sauve, who along with Mayor Mike Ruttan voted against the 
regulations, said he couldn't condone an illegal business.

"When I made an oath to this office, I made sure that I follow 
certain ethics to protect the community. The fact is that you're 
asking the city to regulate an illegal activity--I'm not going to 
support letting this dispensary operate illegally."

Currently, storefront marijuana dispensaries are illegal. Any changes 
to the Criminal Code by the newly elected Liberal government-which 
made an election campaign prommise that it will legalize marijuana- 
will have to pass through parliament before changes can be implemented.

Ruttan called city council being forced to make the choice "unfair."

"For us as a council to presume that we can make a decision about 
this... we're not federal politicians, we're municipal politicians 
and for us as municipal politicians to be placed in a position where 
we're thinking we're going to make a decision about federal law? 
"We're way advanced over anything that's within our area of jurisdiction."

Despite Ruttan's comments on the lack of municipal jurisdiction in 
the area, he had reached out to WeeMedical's landlord Martin Tessler directly.

Speaking two weeks ago, Tessler said that Ruttan had called to inform 
him that the dispensary was "not welcome in the town."

It was a call that Ruttan made acting on his own initiative--a move 
that Alemany was not pleased with.

"In the past couple of weeks there have been some actions by the 
mayor that caused a lot of concern in council and in the community. I 
just wanted to remind us all that we were put here specifically on 
the notion that previous councils were not able to work well together 
and had troubles communicating," said Alemany.

"I think it's important for us to be reminded of that and redouble 
our efforts to work as a team and ensuring that we're always apprised 
of everything that's happening."

City staff will bring recommendations on zoning and regulation of 
marijuana dispensaries to the Nov. 23 council meeting.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom