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. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt