Pubdate: Wed, 27 Apr 2016
Source: Maple Ridge News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Maple Ridge News
Contact:  http://www.mapleridgenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1328
Author: Phil Melnychuk

CITY GOING TO COURT TO CLOSE POT SHOP

Maple Ridge to Seek Injunction Like Abbotsford

Maple Ridge is following Abbotsford's lead and seeking a court 
injunction to shut down one of the three medicinal marijuana stores 
in the city.

Friday, Maple Ridge noted that a Supreme Court ruling found Weeds 
Glass and Gifts in Abbotsfordviolated a city bylaw by not securing a 
business licence before opening.

"Maple Ridge is pursuing an injunction in the B.C. Supreme Court to 
shut down a similar Weeds Glass and Gifts store operation in Maple 
Ridge," said a news release Thursday.

Late last year, the store received a ticket for operating without a 
business licence.

In January, Justice Paul Walker found Weeds Glass and Gifts, in 
Abbotsford, needed a business licence, which it was barred from 
obtaining, in part, because of a bylaw barring the use of city land 
to produce or sell marijuana without explicit permission.

"This business was operating without a valid business license and we 
are pleased that the judge has seen fit to uphold our bylaws in this 
matter," Mayor Henry Braun said then. "We expect that the operator of 
this business will abide by the court's ruling."

The store is one of three in Abbotsford operated by Don Briere, who 
had argued against the order to shut down the business because 
"enforcing laws based on lies and misconception is a misuse of public funds."

He had cited a Supreme Court of Canada case that ruled medical 
marijuana should be available in edible forms.

Briere said he would appeal the ruling and continue operations at his 
three Abbotsford stores.

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.

There has been no court rulings yet on Briere's other two Abbotsford 
marijuana businesses - on George Ferguson Way and South Fraser Way.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom