Pubdate: Thu, 26 Nov 2015
Source: Liberal, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015, Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing
Contact:  http://www.yorkregion.com/richmondhill-on/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2347
Author: Kim Zarzour

POT STORES SPROUT UP IN DOWNTOWN

Two new businesses in downtown Richmond Hill could soon be up in smoke.

York Regional Police are investigating recently opened storefronts on 
Yonge Street that appear to be dispensing medical marijuana.

What started out as one store - with a street sign "Cannibliss" - has 
sprouted into two, both targeting the growing demand for marijuana.

Local Councillor Tom Muench said the store owners report business is booming.

"They've tripled in size in the last few weeks; they're growing exponentially."

Not so fast, York police say.

"There's no such thing as a medical marijuana dispensary licence," 
said Detective Sergeant Peter Casey of the drug and vice unit.

YRP is concerned if any premise may be distributing controlled 
substances that is not authorized by law, he said. "At this time, 
police are aware there are one or more of these premises operating in 
the Richmond Hill area. We are gathering all the facts before acting."

The facts, however, may be confusing.

The first storefront, which called itself Cannibliss, opened several 
weeks ago at Yonge and Centre streets - a slickly decorated shop with 
quiet music and glass cases displaying small packages and bottles.

On a recent day, a young male customer discussed product with a staff 
person while another leafed through pages at a table. Three men 
waited on clients, but did not provide information to The Liberal 
about the business, promising instead to respond "soon" to questions.

The website, Cannibliss.com, offered a selection of marijuana-based 
products, but that site disappeared from the web briefly, reappearing 
again in recent days to announce the store would be "opening soon".

The original store appears now to be operating under the name 
CannaClubs by Sativa & Kush. The website says it is the GTA'S 
premiere dispensary, open seven days a week.

A menu lists a variety of products by weight, capsules, drinks, oils 
and edibles including Carmel Fudge, Triple Toffee Explosion, white 
chocolate oatmeal cranberry and infused chips in salt n vinegar.

Meanwhile, at a shop nearby, construction is underway on a new 
Cannibliss store.

Benny Bisogno, Cannibliss director, said his shop will open soon, 
offering "medical access to medicinal marijuana".

Once he has ensured a customer's prescription from a doctor is "legit 
and not expired ... then we validate access to the club. We provide 
them ways to ingest and smoke their medication" with different 
strains, edibles and tinctures plus topical creams for skin conditions.

He would not say where his store gets the marijuana.

Bisogno said he has been smoking pot for 10 years.

"I had a bad motorcycle accident. I was in such pain and the doctors 
wanted me to take Oxycodene and Percocet and I kept refusing."

Marijuana helped, he said.

"Opiates and codeines are not the way to go."

He wants to share his knowledge, gleaned from the news and Internet, 
to help others.

"I felt people were getting misled or mistreated and not educated and 
we are more knowledgeable than the others."

Having two stores next door to each other is not a problem, he says - 
"There's enough business for the both of us."

The two Richmond Hill stores are the only ones YRP is aware of "but 
we wouldn't be surprised to find out there are others", said Det. 
Sergeant Casey, adding, "there are no provisions for these premises 
to be distributing medical marijuana under Health Canada rules.

"There are laws and regulations in place. If people were able to open 
without a licence ... and we don't know where the product is coming 
from, then anyone could do it."

Casey said he hopes to work with the store owners to find a solution.

"Ultimately we don't want to use firm enforcement; we want to educate 
them on what the law is."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom