Pubdate: Wed, 21 Dec 2016
Source: Ladysmith Chronicle (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 BC Newspaper Group & New Media
Contact:  http://www.ladysmithchronicle.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1279
Author: Mike Gregory

NORTH COWICHAN SLAPS FINES ON CHEMAINUS DISPENSARIES

The Municipality of North Cowichan has delivered a lump of coal to two
Chemainus dispensaries in the form of a $200 fine.

Leaf Compassion Cannabis Dispensary and Green Aura in Chemainus were
slapped with tickets last Tuesday by the area's manager of building
and compliance for not having a business license.

North Cowichan Mayor Jon Lefebure said the dispensary is operating
contrary to federal law.

"I don't see any grey area, it's very clear. We can't issue a business
license for an activity that is illegal," he said.

Staff at Leaf Compassion, which has been in operation for nine months,
were not shy about sharing news of the ticket with the community and
took to Facebook to post a picture themselves with the piece of paper.

Leaf Compassion currently operates locations across the island
including Victoria, Port Alberni, Salt Spring Island and has plans to
open a location in Nanaimo.

Owner Kyle Cheyne told the Chronicle the company approached North
Cowichan prior to opening to work out a compromise.

"We knew we couldn't apply (for a business license) and we basically
approached them and said we need to work towards this, every other
municipality is working towards this," Cheyne said, alleging the
municipality wasn't open to talks.

Leaf Compassion then received a letter prior to opening from North
Cowichan listing sections of the Canadian Criminal Code that they'd be
contravening by opening a dispensary.

"Basically they just said in the letter that they're not going to
issue me a license and how it's illegal by federal law," Cheyne said.

The move by North Cowichan comes a few weeks after a second dispensary
opened in Chemainus called Green Aura.

Store owners were also visited last week.

"When the district confirmed we were opening a cannabis dispensary, we
were denied our license. When the bylaw enforcement arrived, they had
a copy of our application on hand," said owner Cody Aginas.

"We assumed the reason we received the ticket first was due to our
denied application.."

Lefebure said he also wasn't able to discuss how North Cowichan may
proceed in the future with combatting dispensaries.

"I'm not able to discuss what legal actions have been taken before or
will be taken in the future. Decisions are made in camera and I'm not
able to discuss them," he said.

Leaf Compassion has 3,500 members in Chemainus and over 70 per cent
are over the age of 60 years old.

"They want to come into a place like we offer and get medicine,"
Cheyne said.

"That alone should tell any municipality before people like me even
come to listen to their community and give them what they deserve and
that's what we're doing."

Cheyne said he'd like to see regulations in North Cowichan such as
those in Port Alberni where marijuana can't be sold alongside items
such as glass paraphernalia or rolling papers.

"I'm working with the city every day and it's a beautiful thing and
makes total sense and the sky isn't falling and people are getting
better," he said.

As an example of how the dispensary is supporting communities, on
Christmas Eve Leaf Compassion is donating 50 per cent of its proceeds
to the BC SPCA with the goal of reaching $14,000.

"How many businesses can you point out in this country right now can
do something like that?" he said.

Leaf Compassion remains optimistic that a compromise can be struck but
has no plans to close its doors anytime soon despite the possibility
of further action by either the municipality or RCMP.

Cheyne said he's still finding areas within the industry for growth
and people will be surprised by the opportunities if the marijuana is
legalized.

"I'm just taking this industry as it comes and there's opportunities
that are popping up in every direction," he said.

"I won't give up on it. I feel like this is my calling and I just need
to keep going."

Last week, a federal task force on legalized recreational marijuana
recommended in its 106-page report that storefront and mail-order
sales be available to Canadians 18 years and up.

"There will be several opportunities to consult Canadians as the
government proceeds to legalize, and strictly regulate, cannabis,"
said the federal government in a media release last Tuesday.

North Cowichan is awaiting changes from Ottawa before it plans to make
any moves locally.

"We follow what the federal government does and if they change the
federal law that could put us in a difference circumstance," Lefebure
said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt