Pubdate: Mon, 19 Sep 2016 Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2016 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/letter-to-editor Website: http://www.ottawasun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329 Author: Jacquie Miller Page: 4 BIZ GONE TO POT Marijuana shops struggling with image, lack of regulation Two of Ottawa's most popular pot shops have closed after Canada Post intercepted shipments of marijuana mailed to them from B.C. Don Briere, the president of the B.C.-based Weeds Glass & Gifts chain, says he hopes his dispensaries on Bank Street and Montreal Road will reopen if he can figure out a way to ship the dried weed, cannabis-laced brownies, candy, concentrates and other merchandise across the country. Weeds buys the products from growers and "bakers" in B.C. Briere said there had never been a problem with Canada Post carrying his company's products via express post since he opened stores in Toronto a year-and-a-half ago. "All of a sudden, they flagged us and they started seizing the packages," he said in an interview from B.C. "I think the Liberal government, even though they were voted in to legalize cannabis, are encouraging law enforcement, saying, 'The law is the law.'" A vocal marijuana advocate for 25 years and sometimes called Canada's king of pot, Briere says Canada's laws against pot have already been struck down in the court of public opinion. He said is now searching for a trucking firm willing to transport cannabis. He had half a dozen stores in Toronto, but after police raids or the threat of them, all the Weeds but one of the shops there have closed. It still gets its products from B.C. via Canada Post, but not at the store address. Weeds also has a dozen dispensaries in B.C., mainly in Vancouver. His company pays GST and corporate taxes, said Briere, and also lost money seized during the Toronto police raids, a situation he calls "triple taxation." Briere cites court rulings that patients must have reasonable access to medical marijuana. But patients must obtain it from a producer licensed by Health Canada, such as the Tweed facility in Smiths Falls, which can use Canada Post to send product to customers. Or they can grow small quantities for themselves, or buy from growers licensed to produce pot for up to two patients. The two Weeds stores in Ottawa had more than 1,000 customers. Briere said Weeds is negotiating with Canada Post to try to prevent the destruction of $200,000 worth of merchandise destined for Ottawa and Quebec City that was intercepted in August. Canada Post said the shipments violated its regulations on "non-mailable matter," said Dean Davison, the Vancouver lawyer acting for Weeds. Canada Post is allowed to open mail to determine if it violates regulations "in contravention of an Act or a regulation of Canada." Davison said that as far as he knows, Weeds faces no criminal charges. There doesn't appear to be a shortage of product at other dispensaries in Ottawa, though they are not forthcoming about exactly where and how they obtain their merchandise. Another B.C. chain has opened seven shops in Ottawa since June. The stores are called Green Tree, Wee Medical and CannaGreen. Staff refused to provide The Sun with information about who owns and manages the shops, although several said the merchandise was from B.C. Locally owned Magna Terra Health Services, which has dispensaries on Carling Avenue and on Iber Road in Stittsville, hasn't had a problem maintaining supplies, said spokesman Franco Vigile. Vigile said he is confident that his B.C. suppliers are topnotch, but declined to give details about them. Still there are now at least 15 marijuana dispensaries in Ottawa. All say they cater to medical marijuana users. The two Magna Terra Health Services dispensaries, for example, look like upscale medical clinics and employ a nurse. The bare-bones Green Tree stores feature a display case of cannabis products and an ATM machine. Two of the newest shops are on Gladstone Avenue between Bronson and Bank, across the street from each other. Sylk Medy Dispensary operates in the front room of a brick house. The room contains Scott Summers, Sylk Medy Dispensary a couple of couches, a desk, a small display case containing cannabis oils, creams and capsules. Customers must fill out a two-page form about their medical conditions and be already approved by Health Canada to use medical marijuana. "I'm sick and tired of everybody opening a store and just selling weed," said owner Scott Sumers. "It's just a cash grab." His shop does not sell dried weed, candies or cookies. "I want to deter people who just want to score some weed and get high. I don't want stoners in my business. Stoners bring your business down." Across the street, the Releaf Centre opened about a week ago. It's entrance is down a narrow alley. A staffer who identified himself as Dvon was conducting business from the dingy, dark basement Don Briere, the president of Weeds, a chain of marijuana dispensaries, poses for a photo at his Bank Street store in Ottawa. Far left: The Releaf Centre marijuana dispensary at 541 Gladstone Avenue opened Sept 7. It's in the back of a house that has a barbershop in the front. Dispensary customers walk down a narrow alley between two buildings to reach the basement shop. last week after a water pipe burst upstairs. The owner, whom Dvon identified as a friend from Toronto, was unavailable for comment. At the Wee Medical Dispensary Society shop on Rideau Street on Friday night, a middle-aged man emerged after buying a package of gummy candy. A former Weeds customer, he said he is HIV positive and marijuana helps him keep his appetite. He said smoking hurts his lungs but licensed producers are not allowed to sell edible products. A trio of University of Ottawa students wandered into Wee Medical lugging two cases of Sleeman beer. They filled out applications but were told to come back the next day because the store was out of membership cards. Jerome, a business student, said they are casual pot users and were impressed with the store. "It's a more or less safe place," said Jerome. "I'd rather buy it here than in a parking lot from a guy I don't know." - --- MAP posted-by: Matt