Pubdate: Thu, 26 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
Page: A5
Author: Darrell Bellaart

MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES HOPE REGULATION CAN AVOID CLOSURES

Local cannabis dispensary operators feel they've made headway in the
push for regulation similar to that seen in Vancouver and Victoria.

Canadian Association of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries president Jamie
Shaw appeared at before Nanaimo city council's committee of the whole
meeting this week with a pitch for municipal control of medical pot
dispensaries.

Council heard her out, and while no motions were passed on the
subject, dispensary operators were pleased by the discussion Shaw's
appearance generated.

"I think any dialogue is a step in the right direction," said Matt
Henstock, community advocate with Phoenix Pain Management.

"Council did request more information from Jamie."

Her presentation was on how Nanaimo would benefit from municipal
regulation of dispensaries, using case studies from larger cities,
including Los Angeles and Vancouver.

Nanaimo RCMP recently served Nanaimo's 10 pot dispensaries with
cease-and-desist letters, giving them seven days to close or risk
seizures, arrests and possible criminal code charges.

No dispensaries were raided on Thursday's deadline day, and all remain
open, "as far as I know," Henstock said. He said while operators take
the RCMP threat "very seriously," they feel a cooling-off period by
RCMP is warranted, given the pending legalization of the drug.

RCMP backed off on threats to close a Port Alberni dispensary
recently, when city council there introduced bylaws to set the rules
for such businesses.

Meanwhile, Terry Roycroft president of Medical Cannabis Resource
Centre is eyeing Nanaimo as the next site for a legal cannabis medical
clinic as an alternative to the dispensary model.

For a $300 annual membership fee, patients with such conditions as
chronic pain or inflammation, insomnia and stress can have doctors
prescribe them medical cannabis from licensed producers like Tilray,
at clinics now operating in Vancouver and Kamloops.

"We want to come to Nanaimo," Roycroft said. "We'll be opening clinics
in Nanaimo and Victoria in early 2016."
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MAP posted-by: Matt