Pubdate: Wed, 25 Jan 2017
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Page: A14

DON'T OPERATE OUTSIDE THE LAW

Last May, when police raided illegal pot shops across Toronto, Mayor
John Tory said he was worried about their alarming proliferation near
schools and in residential neighbourhoods. "We cannot just have the
Wild West when it comes to dispensaries cropping up on every street
corner," he said.

The mayor was right at the time. Distressingly, his concerns now seem
understated after police made clear this week just how dangerous these
shops can be to their customers, staff and neighbours.

Clients and employees alike have been stabbed, beaten, pistol-whipped
and pepper-sprayed in the course of 13 armed robberies in the past
eight months at illegal pot shops. And those are just the thefts that
police know about.

That's because shop owners don't always report the robberies for fear
that police will confiscate their marijuana supplies.

That thinking is just plain dangerous for all concerned: employees,
customers, neighbours and passersby.

"I realize there is no legal obligation to report a crime, but where
is your moral sense of an obligation?" Toronto Police Supt. Bryce
Evans asked pot shop owners who don't report robberies. "When will you
step up to the plate for your employees (and) customers?"

Here's a better idea. Instead of acting as magnets for criminals, pot
shop owners should close down until the federal government passes
legislation on how and to whom cannabis can be sold. Then it will be
up to the province to decide who can operate retail outlets and where;
that may well include well-regulated, secure dispensaries.

Until then, whether they call themselves dispensaries or stores,
whether they ask to see a prescription for medical marijuana or not,
Toronto's 44 pot shops are operating outside the law.

The only legal way to access medical marijuana in Canada is with a
doctor's prescription via registered mail from one of 38 producers
licensed by Health Canada.

Not that there isn't plenty of blame to spread around on the
proliferation of cannabis retailers.

Last February a federal judge in British Columbia struck down
restrictions on medical marijuana users growing their own plants.
Among the legal uncertainty that followed, dispensaries spread like
wildfire.

And, of course, pot shop owners are anticipating the legalization of
marijuana sales in legislation that the Trudeau government has
promised to introduce this spring.

The government should bring its legislation forward as quickly as
possible to clear up the confusion. But federal Justice Minister Jody
Wilson-Raybould has reminded illegal storefront owners that until that
legislation is passed, "the law is the law." It should be enforced.

That's something marijuana storefronts need to keep in mind even as
they rake in what police say can be up to $30,000 worth of sales of
marijuana and other cannabis products a day in cash sales.

Acting Insp. Steve Watts of the Toronto Drug Squad has noted that
there was a debate following last spring's raids on pot shops about
whether illegal dispensaries present a public safety issue. After the
string of armed robberies, there's little doubt that they are.

It's time pot shop owners ceased and desisted operations until selling
marijuana, outside of the current restricted mail order system, is
legalized.

It's the only responsible and safe thing to do.
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MAP posted-by: Matt