Pubdate: Sat, 10 Sep 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: A1

HELPS FIRM: NEW RULES DON'T ALLOW POT USE AT SHOPS

Victoria's new marijuana retailing regulations coming into effect this
month do not allow people to consume marijuana on site, Mayor Lisa
Helps is stressing.

"To be very clear, these bylaws are meant to make sure that people
have access to their medicine. They are not meant to enable
recreational consumption," Helps said.

"We expect that there will not be consumption of cannabis at any of
the places that are going to be open as a result of this new licensing
regime."

Helps's comments came after a marathon public hearing in which
councillors were praised for their approach to marijuana retail
operations, but at the same time were urged to allow places where
people can consume pot and to not force retailers to close by 8 p.m.

Ashley Abraham, owner of the Green Ceiling vapour lounge, said in two
years of working at a "compassion club," she saw reasons to allow
on-site consumption by medicinal users who are unable to do so at home
due to factors such as rental agreements or having spouses and
children in the home.

One speaker said that as a teenager, he used to be asked on Victoria
streets if he wanted to buy pot. With the advent of dispensaries, that
doesn't happen anymore, he said.

"Dispensaries have cleaned up the dealers on the street, so why not
let the lounges clean up the users on the street while at the same
time creating jobs and contributing taxes?" he asked.

Helps said Victoria is making changes to zoning and business licensing
bylaws to accommodate the sale of medical marijuana, not recreational
marijuana, and it troubled her that some of the speakers at the
hearing made comparisons with the sale of liquor.

Councillors approved the bylaws, but several said they did not rule
out future amendments that could allow consumption of marijuana on
sites operated by non-profit organizations.

Coun. Ben Isitt said the new regulations respond to generally held
public views toward marijuana use.

"I think there's particularly compelling arguments in the non-profit
societies for allowing people to consume the substance," Isitt said.
"I think that argument's a bit weaker in the for-profit
establishments, where I personally don't see a pressing need to allow
people to consume the product."

Coun. Marianne Alto said she was "profoundly troubled by the
complexities of the prohibition around on-site use." She said it's
illogical that the city is spending an enormous time and effort trying
to facilitate supervised consumption sites for other illegal drugs
while prohibiting use of cannabis.

"I think that managing on-site consumption will help us manage public
use and will also help us manage unwilling exposure."

Council approved changes that will force all marijuana retailers to
apply for rezoning to come into compliance.

By the end of the month, Victoria's burgeoning marijuana retail sector
will have to take steps to meet new business licensing
regulations.

Requirements include: No marijuana use or other business (including
ATMs) on site, no one under 19 on premises, posting of health and
safety warnings, and special ventilation. A maximum of two exterior
signs would be allowed, restricted to letters and numbers with no
images. Sites have to close between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m., have video
surveillance and security plans and conduct criminal record checks of
employees.
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MAP posted-by: Matt