Pubdate: Fri, 20 Nov 2015
Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Black Press, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nanaimodailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608
Author: Aaron Hinks

DEADLINE COMES AND GOES, POT SHOPS STILL OPERATING

It was business as usual for most Nanaimo medical marijuana
dispensaries yesterday, despite a letter from the RCMP threatening to
'arrest all employees and patrons on site,' if the establishments
continued to operate.

The cease-and-desist letter was handed to 10 pot dispensary owners and
managers on Nov. 12. The letter gave owners seven calendar days to
shut down or possibly face criminal charges under the Controlled Drugs
and Substances Act.

The threat encouraged owners, managers and supporters to gather for at
least two meetings to discuss how to respond. Almost all Nanaimo
dispensaries stayed open Thursday. None had been raided by the RCMP by
the end of the working day.

Brandy Cavanagh, manager of Mid-Island Health and Wellness
Association, a medical pot dispensary located on Dufferin Crescent,
said her store was flooded with customers Thursday.

"It's chaotic in here, business as usual. The only way we're going out
is in cuffs," Cavanagh said.

Phoenix Pain Management Society managing director, and the voice of
the Nanaimo Cannabis Coalition, Akil Pessoa joined coalition member
Matthew O'Donnell in a meeting with Mayor Bill McKay Thursday afternoon.

Pessoa said they wanted to have an open dialogue provide him with
information on what other cities are doing to regulate medical
marijuana dispensaries.

"Our job is to work with city council, work with the mayor, work with
the community and put something together that works in Nanaimo.
Hopefully we don't get locked up in the meantime by the guys that
aren't part of the democratic process," Pessoa said.

The newly elected Liberal government is in the primitive stages of
legalizing marijuana. The coalition, Pessoa says, wants interim
municipal guidelines and principles clearly stated while the federal
government works on legalization.

"We know that the City of Nanaimo has no control or jurisdiction over
the RCMP, so we're looking beyond that with regulation here in the
City of Nanaimo and we want to work with the City of Nanaimo to
achieve our goal," O'Donnell said.

McKay was in meetings Thursday and did not respond to a request for
comment. Const. Gary O'Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP said the police do
not comment on active investigations.
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MAP posted-by: Matt