Pubdate: Wed, 29 Jun 2016 Source: Toronto Star (CN ON) Page: GT2 Copyright: 2016 The Toronto Star Contact: http://www.thestar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456 Author: Betsy Powell TORONTO PUTS OFF REGULATING POT SHOPS Licensing Committee Defers Debate Until October The city of Toronto won't regulate rogue pot dispensaries anytime soon, after the licensing committee voted this week to defer the issue until the fall, touching off a brief but noisy protest at city hall. Last month, Mayor John Tory asked staff to look at ways of regulating the marijuana dispensaries popping up in some parts of the city. Police and city enforcement staff followed through on his call for a crackdown by shutting down dozens of shops and laying numerous criminal and bylaw infraction charges. Some stores have reopened, but the city and police have vowed to continue to enforce the law until Ottawa legalizes pot as promised. Licensing staff, after consulting the legal department, concluded the city didn't have authority to regulate the sale of medical or non-medical marijuana. Their report noted, however, that Vancouver passed a bylaw regulating medical marijuana businesses, though many applying for the new licence do not meet the zoning requirements. Staff recommended reporting back to the committee on Oct. 25 "with an updated review of the legislative landscape." The federal government must revise or replace the medical marijuana law by Aug. 24, after the federal court declared it invalid. Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, a member of the licensing committee, led a motion on Monday to defer the debate until fall, arguing it was premature. "Until the federal government actually legalizes marijuana, municipalities are not in the position of legalizing them, and that's what people just don't understand," Mammoliti said outside the committee room while pot advocates hurled insults his way. "You're driving this back underground," scolded one pot dispensary owner. Councillor Jim Karygiannis was the lone committee member to vote against deferring, saying the city needs to end costly enforcement actions immediately. "We have to go back to the drawing board . . . stakeholders have to be at the table to discuss and have a rational approach on how to move forward," Karygiannis said, flanked by representatives of the Toronto Dispensaries Coalition. The coalition is hoping to work with the city to bring forward "safe, sensible and reasonable regulations that will be best for Torontonians," said spokesman Michael McLellan. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom