Pubdate: Wed, 11 May 2016 Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB) Copyright: 2016 Winnipeg Free Press Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/send_a_letter Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502 Author: Aldo Santin Page: B3 MARIJUANA REGULATIONS CAN WAIT ENTREPRENEURS planning retail marijuana operations will not yet get direction from city hall. A civic committee Tuesday supported an administrative recommendation not to prepare a report examining how retail marijuana operators can be regulated - despite a November directive from council to do so. The proposal had been a suggestion from Coun. Ross Eadie, who said the city should be proactive in regulating where sellers can operate in anticipation of the federal government either legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana. Eadie said without regulations in place, marijuana retailers would be able to set up adjacent to schools - which he opposes. But planning director John Kiernan told councillors on the property and development committee it's premature to come up with rules without knowing what changes the federal government is planning. Kiernan said his staff have reviewed what other communities have done, and can produce regulations affecting the location of retail marijuana operators once Ottawa changes the drug laws. Eadie said city hall still needs to have regulations around retail marijuana shops. "My concern is medical marijuana outlets will start opening again given the eventual legalization of marijuana in 2017, if the federal government is true to their word," Eadie said. "These still-illegal outlets may get out there ahead of the other outlets to establish their presence and customer base. We should do as Vancouver has done by getting out ahead of any potential disorganization." Eadie said it's not certain how the new Manitoba government will deal with retail marijuana operations but city hall should take a public position on it now. maintenance but noted some tenants pay market rent, which the artists do not. Councillors on the committee did not propose any concessions for the artists' group and instructed the administration to renew the lease according to the terms it was proposing. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom