Pubdate: Fri, 08 Jan 2016
Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Abbotsford News
Website: http://www.abbynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155
Author: Laura Rodgers
Page: 5

POT SHOP OWNER TO FIGHT CITY IN SUPREME COURT

The owner of three marijuana dispensaries in Abbotsford intends to
fight the city in court to keep the pot shops open.

Don Briere of Vancouver runs Weeds Glass and Gifts Ltd., a
province-wide chain with Abbotsford outlets on Clearbrook Road, George
Ferguson Way and South Fraser Way. In October, the City of Abbotsford
filed a petition in B.C. Supreme Court to shut the Clearbrook location
down.

The city argued the shop should be shuttered because it was operating
without a business licence. Briere, a well-known medical pot activist,
tried to get a permit but was denied because Abbotsford bans marijuana
dispensaries.

In a response to the city's filing, Briere wrote that the order to
shut down the shop shouldn't be granted because "enforcing laws based
on lies and misconception is a misuse of public funds." He cited a
Supreme Court of Canada case from 2015 that ruled medical marijuana
should be available in edible forms, as smoking pot can harm the lungs.

Medical marijuana is legal in Canada, but the only official
distribution channel is through a mail-order process overseen by
Health Canada. "Compassion clubs" and dispensaries like Briere's are
technically illegal, but the laws against them remain unenforced in
many communities.

The hearing on the petition will take place on Jan. 11 at 9:45 a.m. at
the Smithe Street courthouse in Vancouver.

Briere has told The News he intends to fight the city on this as far
as he can. As the Liberal Party of Canada has legalizing marijuana as
part of its legislative agenda, he said shutting down dispensaries now
is unnecessary.

"We're going to be there on Jan. 11 and make our presentation," he
said. "For now, we're still operating as usual."

City of Abbotsford spokesperson Katherine Treloar said the city will
not comment on legal matters.
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MAP posted-by: Matt