Pubdate: Tue, 09 Feb 2016
Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN)
Copyright: 2016 The StarPhoenix
Contact:  http://thestarphoenix.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400
Author: Andrea Hill
Page: A2

COUNCIL REJECTS 'CRAZY REQUEST' TO REOPEN POT SHOP

Medical Marijuana Store Owner Says Users Suffer Without Access to Weed

Pleas from the owner of Saskatoon's now-shuttered medical marijuana 
dispensary that he be allowed to operate in the grey area of the law 
fell on deaf ears at a council committee meeting.

Mark Hauk, founder of the Saskatoon Compassion Club, closed the 
dispensary's doors after he was charged last fall with trafficking, 
production and possessing the proceeds of crime.

He told council's planning committee on Monday that the closure means 
many people who relied on medical marijuana are now suffering. He 
asked that his business be allowed to operate despite the fact that 
it is presently considered illegal under federal law.

The federal government has promised to legalize marijuana, but the 
timing of this remains unclear. Hauk asked that the city and police 
force to let businesses like his operate in a fuzzy legal zone in the meantime.

"That seems a crazy request, right? And I can't think of another 
situation that might warrant it," he told reporters after speaking to 
councillors. "It seems like a bold and maybe even unachievable 
suggestion, but I guess that's exactly what's on the table."

With marijuana legalization on the horizon, the city needs to look at 
medical marijuana dispensary regulations now - not in years or 
months, when legalization happens, Hauk argued.

"We can be smart as a city and put regulations in right now and 
prevent that next dispensary from popping up next to a school or 
prevent that next dispensary being opened by organized crime," he 
said. "We have that opportunity now; I'm not sure why we wouldn't take it."

City administrators told councillors at the meeting that the city 
should not issue business licences for illegal businesses.

"Unfortunately - nobody likes to hear this - but the federal law is 
the federal law," solicitor Christine Bogad told the committee.

Speaking with media after the meeting, Coun. Troy Davies said he 
feels sympathy for medical marijuana users who are suffering in the 
aftermath of Hauk's shop being closed down, but that councillors' 
"hands are tied."

"It's something as a councillor you don't really like to say a whole 
lot, but in this particular instance I think we have to be crystal 
clear on abiding by the law," he said.

"As soon as you start stepping outside those boundaries or looking at 
grey areas, it's just going to present precedents to do other things 
in grey areas, and that's just something that I don't think anyone on 
council or his worship (Mayor Don Atchison) is willing to go down that road."

Further discussion about whether the city should wade into regulating 
medical marijuana dispensaries is expected at council's meeting at 
the end of the month.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom