Pubdate: Tue, 07 Feb 2017
Source: Penticton Herald (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.pentictonherald.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/664
Page: A3

MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES COMING UNDER FIRE

Marijuana dispensaries are back on city council's agenda today during
what looks to be a jam-packed set of meetings.

McNaughton Support Services, which provides programs for adults and
youth with developmental disabilities, has complained about Okanagan
Cannabis Solutions opening up next door at 575 Main St., without the
proper approvals.

"We were relieved when we heard that city council had not issued a
licence for this dispensary, but see that it is now open in spite of
this," director Warren McNaughton wrote in a letter to council.

"This has serious implications for our business, especially with the
youth program if families make the decision to not allow the youth to
attend."

McNaughton notes his company has "made every attempt to follow the
rules in operating our agency and cannot understand why a business,
especially of this nature, is being allowed to open without following
the same rules."

The operator of a different marijuana dispensary, who forced the
city's hand in 2015 when he began operating openly, is also on the
agenda.

Jukka Laurio has now asked council to allow him to appeal a staff
decision to deny the non-profit registration of the Association for
Medical Marijuana Awareness.

The association apparently intends to operate separately from Laurio's
dispensary, Herbal Green, but would share a building with it.

Herbal Green is also operating without proper permits, so staff
decided against registering the non-profit association.

In other business, council is expected to approve a deal with the
operator of the 2017 ITU Multisport World Championships.

Terms of the agreement call for the city to make a $125,000 cash
contribution and $125,000 in-kind donation to the 10-day event, which
is expected to draw 5,000 athletes to Penticton in August.

Ahead of the regular meeting, council is slated to receive eight
separate delegations at its committee of the whole.

Scheduled visitors include Elvena Slump and Helen Trevors, who will
ask council to support recall legislation for municipal politicians,
and Penticton Convention Centre general manager Dean Clarke, who will
ask council to support a bid to bring a Federation of Canadian
Municipalities board meeting to the facility in 2019.

Committee of the whole begins at 1 p.m. in council chambers, followed
immediately by the start of the regular meeting. Both are open to the
public.

Beginning at 6 p.m., council will conduct four separate public
hearings, then consider a series of land matters.

The public hearings relate to a zoning amendment to allow a duplex
straddling 457 and 461 Nelson Ave., a zoning amendment to permit a
triplex at 251 Rigsby St., and various amendments to allow a 110-lot
subdivision at 1830 Ridgedale Ave.
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MAP posted-by: Matt