Pubdate: Tue, 17 Nov 2015
Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC)
Contact:  2015 Black Press, Inc.
Website: http://www.nanaimodailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608

WE NEED THIS MARIJUANA LEGAL LIMBO CLEARED UP VERY SOON

It's an issue that requires a very quick resolution.

As we reported last week, the Nanaimo RCMP has started issuing 
warnings to marijuana dispensaries to close their doors or face 
closure and possible prosecution. Police issued letters to several 
cannabis businesses in Nanaimo to shut down within seven days or risk 
arrest, seizures and possible prosecution for cannabis trafficking.

The decision has drawn criticism and the question of "why now?"

Health Canada issued warnings in late summer that dispensaries would 
be closed, and in September a handful of cease-and-desist orders were 
issued across Canada.

 From a law enforcement perspective, the situation is easily 
explained. Though to some it may appear heavy-handed, police say they 
are just doing their job.

 From Nanaimo RCMP spokesman Const. Gary O'Brien: "Nothing has 
changed, what we're simply doing is addressing the issue that they 
are contravening federal law in Canada, by trafficking in marijuana."

Fair enough. The job of the police is to enforce the laws of the 
land. We simply cannot have a situation whereby people or businesses 
openly carry on with potentially illegal activities. And, under the 
previous Conservative government, the feeling about marijuana was 
fairly clear and police already had their marching orders. But 
everything changed on Oct. 19, when Justin Trudeau's Liberals came into power.

As new Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould told the CBC: "We are 
proceeding in a concerted way in respect to marijuana in terms of 
legalization and regulation and working with other jurisdictions to 
approach this in a thoughtful way, so we will be moving forward with 
that and I'll have more to say in the coming weeks and months."

It appears more had better be said on the issue in short order, 
before thousands of taxpayer dollars are spent on what may prove 
unnecessary enforcement, with pot seemingly in legal limbo. Does 
closing the dispensaries actually create more crime? If it's going to 
be legal, is a late-in-the-game, sweeping crackdown an effective use 
of resources?

We have to walk a fine line on this. Should there be sympathy for a 
business that pours capital into a project before they get a full 
green light, whether from a municipality or the federal government?

The RCMP are faced with finding a way to maintain their mandate - to 
uphold the law - and navigate around the politics of an issue that 
requires immediate action.

The Trudeau government is faced with the reality of bringing 
marijuana into the 21st century, finding a way to allow people to use 
a drug that many, many Canadians have been using in abundance for 
some time despite its current legal status.

Dispensaries needed to anticipate this very real possibility of 
actions by the RCMP given the current circumstances.

Until new federal regulations are in place and provincial statutes 
and municipal bylaws can dovetail into the federal policy, it's best 
that dispensaries wait for the required clarity.

It can't come too soon.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom