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