Pubdate: Fri, 22 Jul 2016
Source: Penticton Herald (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.pentictonherald.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/664
Page: A8

SHOP MUST FOLLOW RULES

Procedure is the issue, not benefits of marijuana

Jukka Laurio is right, but he's wrong. Laurio made an unscripted plea
before Penticton City Council asking to rescind the suspension of the
business licence for his Rush In and Finish Cafe, which sells much
more than coffee and baked goods. Laurio politely argued that many of
his clients suffer medical conditions and benefit greatly from
cannabis he also sells there. He said marijuana is in the process of
being legalized and Justin Trudeau won a majority in the last election
with pot being a major plank in the Liberal campaign.

Laurio said he never hid from the fact it was a pot shop as he granted
interviews with the media dating back to November.

Laurio is right in much of what he said but the issue he failed to
address was that his shop is licensed as a cafe - not as a medical
marijuana dispensary. The city had no choice.

Rules are in place for the protection of a neighbourhood. He's
providing a complex service that needs to be regulated. If Laurio is
interested in providing such a service he, like anybody else, needs to
go through the proper channels.

Voting in support of Laurio were Mayor Andrew Jakubeit and Coun. Tarik
Sayeed.

Sayeed correctly noted that pot shops are a rapidly evolving issue
that's not going to go away anytime soon. Earlier this week there was
a passionate meeting held in Osoyoos where council there is trying to
figure out what to do.

While the majority of Canadians support the legalization (or at least
decriminalization) of marijuana, the federal government certainly
hasn't made it an easy transition for police, municipalities and citizens.

- -James Miller
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MAP posted-by: Matt