Pubdate: Sat, 24 Sep 2016
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.ottawacitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Jacquie Miller
Page: A4

COPS PONDER POT SHOP QUANDARY: RAID THEM OR JUST IGNORE THEM?

Since last spring, Toronto police have raided about 50 of the city's
marijuana dispensaries and charged dozens of people with drug
trafficking. It hasn't come close to stamping out the illegal pot
shops, though - dozens still operate across the city.

That cautionary tale is not far from the minds of Ottawa police as
they ponder what to do about the 15 pot shops that have opened here.

Several Ottawa city councillors have said the dispensaries are
breaking the law and should be closed. Parents in Orleans are furious
after a dispensary opened in a building on St. Joseph Boulevard that
also houses a martial arts studio and a tutoring centre for children.

Ottawa police are investigating the pot shops, said Insp. Michael
Laviolette. But they are taking what he calls a "measured approach."

"We have to ask ourselves, what is the risk to the community? We are
investigating them, we aren't ignoring them. We're not kicking the
doors in with the tac team, guns ablazing, a la Toronto, the way they
did it. All those places they kicked the doors in in Toronto? They
reopened the very next day. Is that what you want as a citizen in the
City of Ottawa?"

While some Ottawa residents have complained about the dispensaries,
others object to the idea of public money spent on raiding them when
marijuana will soon be legal, said Laviolette. In Toronto, there was
public criticism over the dispensary raids.

The situation is in "flux," he said. "We need to get our heads around
the fact that it's very soon not going to be illegal anymore. However,
it will be regulated, heavily regulated, and that's what we're waiting
to see, what that's going to look like."

A federally appointed panel of experts is supposed to make
recommendations in November on how the government should regulate the
production, distribution and sale of cannabis. Legislation to legalize
recreational marijuana is supposed to be introduced next spring.

The regulated universe is unlikely to be a free-for-all of pot shops
on every corner.

The government has promised a "public health approach," with strict
regulations, support for addiction treatment and education about the
risks of using marijuana, especially for youth. A discussion paper
released as part of public consultations warns against what happened
when pot was legalized in Colorado and Washington State. (Pot is sold
in boutiques and has become a tourist draw.)

The government should guard against the commercialization and
"normalization" of marijuana, the paper says. It discusses
restrictions on advertising, plain packaging, and limits on THC, the
chemical ingredient that makes users high.

Of particular concern are edible products like the cannabis-laced
cookies, brownies, Freezies, pop and candy that are now on sale at
dispensaries across Ottawa. They could be attractive to children.

Will Ottawa police take action against the shops? They aren't saying,
as drug investigations are confidential. One person who complained to
police about the Orleans dispensary said she got a phone call from a
member of the drug squad, who assured her they are
investigating.

Laviolette said Ottawa police are consulting with the Public
Prosecution Service of Canada, the office responsible for prosecuting
drug crimes.

"In this particular case, things have been sent up to them, and we are
just waiting. We have gathered evidence on certain things. I can't get
into specifics, but we've kind of pushed the ball into their court. Do
we move forward on this, or do we not?"

Attorney General Yasir Naqvi told the Citizen's editorial board Friday
that those who are dispensing marijuana now are doing it illegally
under current laws, but he isn't in a position to tell police how to
do their jobs.

It will be up to the Crown to determine how to proceed if charges are
laid, he said.

All the dispensaries say they cater to medical marijuana users. They
have various rules for screening customers. Some require a doctor's
prescription, for instance, or offer to provide a doctor consultation
on Skype. But none of the dispensaries is licensed by Health Canada.

"They are getting the products illegally," said Laviolette. "The
government is not supplying them with the products. You can have all
the medical certificates in the world, but if you're not licensed to
be handing (medical marijuana), it's trafficking."
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