Pubdate: Wed, 09 Dec 2015
Source: Morning Star, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 The Morning Star
Contact:  http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1352

RCMP URGED TO HALT ACTION

The Herbal-Health Centre (THHC), a medical cannabis dispensary in 
Vernon, is calling for a moratorium on any further RCMP intervention 
in the fledgling industry until the new Liberal government formalizes 
its plans for the legalization of the product.

Imre Kovacs, who represents a coalition of dispensaries in Vernon, 
said RCMP action at various dispensaries around B.C. including one 
that he is involved in, make it clear there is much confusion 
surrounding the anticipated legalization of cannabis and the sensible 
thing to do would be to maintain the status quo until such time as 
the government acts upon and changes the legislation and regulation 
of cannabis.

Kovacs says that the facilities are responding to police warnings by 
shutting down retail operations.

"Vernon dispensaries will have no product on site and will not be 
conducting retail sales," said Kovacs in a press release.

"The activities we were warned about will stop. We will implement an 
open-house policy and staff will be on hand to answer questions and 
concerns from patients about accessing their medicine. The public 
will be able to enter the facilities and talk with staff."

Kovacs said the RCMP's actions "are not helping the situation," and 
believes they are putting medical patient cannabis users "in a state 
of tension and threatening the survival of dispensaries."

"We realize evolving transparent laws and regulations will take time 
and we support the notion that this must happen to arrive at sensible 
and workable laws that will regulate cannabis for medical and social 
purposes," he said.

Five Vernon dispensaries, including The Herbal-Health Centre, were 
visited by RCMP the last week of November.

In acknowledging the verbal warning recently issued by local RCMP, 
Kovacs said the City of Vernon and RCMP were fully aware of its 
business intentions months and years in advance of his opening, and 
understood that they were "operating under a non-enforcement policy 
with their tacit approval."

"We have complied with all the direction and feedback we received 
from these officials and have operated openly, transparently and 
responsibly - the record is very clear," said Kovacs. "Nothing has 
changed in the context of legislation but we have a new federal 
government that has set in motion a process for legalization and 
regulation of cannabis.

"With this clearly in mind what is the purpose of this current RCMP 
campaign knowing change is coming? We wonder why the RCMP is taking 
the action it is. Surely it is more sensible to simply go to a stand 
still position for all concerned until the government makes its decision."

The coalition facilities collectively serve a membership of about 
10,000 patients and believe they have a responsibility to look after 
their health needs.

While recognizing there are many facets to the infant industry, 
Kovacs said his company consistently strives to be one of the leading 
dispensaries in the province and Canada.

"We set high standards for ourselves and our members and are 
responsible, professional and transparent," he said.

Despite the whole industry being on a learning curve, Kovacs said his 
nine employees undergo on-going, in-house training and "we are 
determined to be at the leading edge of patient and dispensing care 
and the coalition is committed to implementing high standards for all 
represented facilities."

"That is why we firmly believe that leaving the current situation 
alone is the best course of action," he said. "It will reduce the 
anxiety level of patients and give the government the time it needs 
to formulate the best legislation it can."

The Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP issued a release last week confirming 
it had paid a visit to the five dispensaries "to outline our concerns 
and the potential ramifications related to business practices which 
do not comply with the current Controlled Drugs and Substances Act."

Police said in the same release it would not be commenting further on 
this issue.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom