Pubdate: Fri, 26 Aug 2016
Source: Northumberland Today (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 Sun Media
Contact: http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/letters
Website: http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5003
Author: Joelle Kovach
Page: B2

MARIJUANA DISPENSARY WON'T OPEN AFTER ALL

Plans to open GW Weed Emporium downtown shelved over new Health Canada
regulations on medical marijuana

The downtown isn't getting a medical marijuana dispensary after
all.

GW Weed Emporium was supposed to open Sept. 1, on George Street next
to Minh's Chinese Grocery.

But a new handwritten sign was posted in the empty storefront window
Tuesday night stating the store isn't opening after all.

"GW Weed Emporium regrets to inform you we will not be opening, due to
Health Canada's new regulations which commence Aug. 24," the note reads.

As of Wednesday, Health Canada has newly revised rules to govern the
use of medical marijuana. It's the first update to the rules in three
years.

Patients who have a prescription for marijuana are allowed to grow a
limited amount of weed for their own use, or designate someone else to
grow it for them.

But storefront marijuana dispensaries are still illegal because they
aren't getting weed from a legal source, making it potentially unsafe.

The owners of GW Weed Emporium hoped Health Canada was about to change
that rule about marijuana dispensaries being illicit, the note says.

Perhaps that's because Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised to
legalize themarijuana trade.

Meanwhile, marijuana dispensaries have been opening across Canada in
anticipation of Trudeau making good on that promise. In Toronto alone,
there are more than 40 dispensaries.

The owner of GW Weed Emporium had one in Toronto and another in Oshawa
- - both of which have now closed.

"We will be abiding by the law and the new regulations," the note
reads. "We have already closed our other stores in Toronto and Oshawa."

Police in Toronto have been raiding dispensaries over the last few
months, charging owners and employees with drug-related offences.

GW Emporium owner Will Johnston was asked in an interview with The
Examiner last week why he thought it was a good idea to open the
dispensary in Peterborough, given those police raids.

He said he recognizes the risk, but the benefits for his clients are
worth it.

"There is always that concern, but the patient and what we do for
patients, outweighs it," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt