Pubdate: Fri, 24 Feb 2017
Source: Goldstream Gazette (Victoria, CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 Black Press
Contact:  http://www.vicnews.com/eeditions/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1291
Author: Katherine Engqvist

POT DISPENSARY REOPENS, SHUTS IN LANGFORD

Another arrest made Wednesday, City continues to issue bylaw violation
tickets

The saga of the Green Tree Medical Dispensary continues in
Langford.

A staff member at the marijuana retailer was arrested Wednesday
afternoon, a day after the shop reopened again. Two arrests were made
Feb. 15 after West Shore RCMP executed a search warrant on the premises.

Lorne Fletcher, the city's senior bylaw enforcement officer, said
Wednesday that bylaw officers have visited - and ticketed - the
dispensary almost every day it has been open.

"We're looking at a number of violations," he said. "It's business as
usual for us, we're not treating this business differently than any
other."

Last week the City of Langford filed an injunction against Green Tree
for a number of violations, including operating without a business
license and or the required permits.

Fletcher noted the injunction primarily references the fact Green Tree
is in violation of the City's land-use bylaws.

The business has 21 days to respond and the matter is expected to be
heard by the courts in mid-March.

While Fletcher said there had been no response from the business yet,
he noted it was still fairly early in the process. "In all fairness
they need to have the opportunity to consult with legal counsel."

Until that court date, he said, day-to-day operations for bylaw staff
will include ticketing the business for obvious violations. "It's
pretty straightforward; we have a breach of the city's bylaws," he
said.

Those bylaws are a way for the City to protect its residents, he
added, since it does not have the authority to wade into criminal matters.

A store employee said Wednesday afternoon that customers had expressed
their support for the dispensary and were happy it was open again this
week. A cluster of welcome back balloons beside the counter, a giant
card and a little trophy with a handwritten note that said "Langford's
#1 dispensary" were some of the items on display.

Green Tree, Langford's first and only marijuana dispensary, has been
at odds with the City of Langford and West Shore RCMP since opening
its doors in January. In the Feb. 15 warrant visit, RCMP officers also
seized an undisclosed amount of marijuana. The two individuals
arrested were released on a promise to appear at a later date.

Officers conducted a compliance check on Jan. 17 and confiscated
marijuana product, but no charges have been filed as a result of that
investigation.
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MAP posted-by: Matt