Pubdate: Fri, 06 May 2016
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Bill Cleverley
Page: A4

MARIJUANA EDIBLES WILL NOT BE BANNED FROM OUTLETS

Marijuana candies, cookies and other baked goods won't be banned 
under Victoria's proposed regulations governing marijuana retailers, 
despite the urging of provincial medical officials.

Instead, Mayor Lisa Helps will write to Chief Medical Health Officer 
Dr. Perry Kendall asking him to have Island Health address food or 
health safety concerns involving marijuana edibles.

"I am very loath to take on the work of the provincial government," 
Helps said while noting that, by attempting to regulate marijuana 
retailers, the city is already doing the work of the federal 
government. "It's clearly not our job."

Kendall wrote to councillors this week, urging them to impose a 
marijuana edibles ban. "While I understand that this position was 
supported by a majority of those in the community who were consulted 
on the basis they felt the benefits would outweigh the harms - such a 
conclusion is not based on the evidence," Kendall wrote. "Nor is this 
position supported by public health officials in British Columbia and 
is directly contrary to the advice presented to you by Dr. Richard 
Stanwick, chief medical health officer for Vancouver Island Health."

Public health officials worry that medical marijuana in the likes of 
candies and baked goods appeal to children, increasing the risk of 
childhood marijuana poisoning, and there is an increased risk of 
intoxication and prolonged impairment among adults from edibles.

"I don't think it's our role to determine or to deal with the 
concerns that were communicated to us by the health authorities," 
Coun. Pam Madoff said.

"I think that's going to come from the federal government in terms of 
what the strength [of products] is and clear labelling and that kind 
of thing. My concerns in terms of folks who are not able or not 
willing to smoke marijuana, but need it for medicinal purposes and 
are able to consume it in another fashion, is really important. We 
would be eradicating a huge portion of the public that does use 
marijuana for medical therapy who would not be able to smoke it." 
City staff withdrew earlier recommendations to ban both the sale of 
marijuana edibles and the delivery of marijuana products.

Victoria has seen an explosion of marijuana-related retailers in 
recent months. About 35 shops are operating, including about 32 
storefront marijuana retailers - up from four 20 months ago.

The new regulations will essentially prohibit marijuana retailers 
from operating unless expressly permitted. That means every retailer 
will have to go through a rezoning process, including making a 
presentation to the Community Association Land Use Committee and then 
apply for a business licence in order to operate. City staff expect 
to have the necessary bylaw changes ready by June.

A key provision would prohibit marijuana retailers from operating 200 
metres from each other or from a school or licensed childcare 
facility. As applications are to be processed on a 
first-come-first-serve basis, that could create a major scramble as 
existing shop owners jockey to have their applications dealt with first.

Coun. Geoff Young suggested council remove the 200-metre limit 
between shops, saying putting shop owners in competition to get their 
application in first adds an unnecessary complication to the rezoning 
and licensing process. But he failed to get support.

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[sidebar]

POT SHOP RULES

Key provisions of the new regulations include:

* Marijuana businesses must be at least 200 metres from schools and 
other medical-marijuana operations. * No marijuana use allowed on 
site. * Hours limited to 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. * No other business can be 
conducted. * Annual licence fee of $4,000-$5,000. * No one under 19 
on premises. * No advertising. * Odour-control and air filtration 
systems must be used. * Health-warning signs posted. * Security plan 
required. * Minimum of two employees on site. * Video surveillance 
cameras required. * Secure storage of valuables required.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom