Pubdate: Wed, 06 Dec 2017
Source: Daily Courier, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/531
Author: Ron Seymour
Page: A1

HYBRID MODEL FOR POT SALES WELCOMED BY PRIVATE SHOP

B.C. decides marijuana will be sold in both gov't and privately owned
outlets

The B.C. government's decision that the private sector can have a role
in the sale of marijuana next year comes as expected but still welcome
news to Rob Lindsay.

Lindsay, spokesman for one of the existing Kelowna pot shops, said he
was "thrilled" with Victoria's announcement Tuesday that the retailing
of marijuana will be accomplished through a mix of
government-controlled and privately owned outlets.

"This is good news for our industry," said Lindsay, of Trichome Valley
Rx on Enterprise Way.

"I think it is important the private sector be involved in the
retailing (of marijuana) because we have the professionalism,
expertise and customer service you sometimes don't find in a
government liquor store," Lindsay said. "We have bud tenders, not just
retail clerks."

However, Lindsay's enthusiasm may be premature as the City of Kelowna
intends to press on with current legal action to shut down Trichome
Valley Rx and the other pot shops.

"Today's announcement from the province does not change the city's
position with respect to our enforcement action against any cannabis
storefront dispensary," says city clerk Stephen Fleming.

And Mayor Colin Basran says the private sector's expected involvement
in pot sales next July does not guarantee Lindsay or any of the other
existing operators will necessarily be granted a business licence to
operate in Kelowna.

"The big question we still don't have an answer to is whether these
types of dispensaries will be allowed as one of the retailing
options," Mayor Colin Basran said.

"Nothing we have so far tells us that stand-alone dispensaries will be
the method of retailing," Basran said.

It's conceivable, for example, that pot might only be sold privately
through pharmacies, or other types of businesses not currently selling
marijuana, Basran said.

No details on the ways in which the private sector will be involved in
the retailing of pot were provided Tuesday by the government.
Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said those details will come in a few
months (see related story on page A4).

The City of West Kelowna, like other municipalities, expects to exert
some regulatory control over the retailing of marijuana.

"We don't know what authorities the province will give to
municipalities to zone and otherwise regulate, and I expect they will
be significant beyond zoning," West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater said.

West Kelowna has been fining five unlicensed pot shops $1,000 a day
since November 1, and has recently taken court action to try to shut
them down. However, Findlater said the city will revisit bylaw
regulations regarding the sale of pot once more details are announced
by the province in the new year on precisely how the drug will be sold.

The City of Kelowna expects to have power to set rules on the size of
pot shops, their hours of operation and where they can be located,
Basran said.

"We've said consistently to the owners of the dispensaries, 'Don't
open up,' because we don't know what the rules surrounding the
retailing of marijuana will be," Basran said.

Private pot shop owners, Basran said, had "put themselves in this
situation" of facing current legal action aimed at shutting them down
while still not being guaranteed to operate once marijuana becomes
legal next July.

For his part, Lindsay says the city's position is "myopic and
shortsighted" given the pending legalization of pot.

"We believe we're doing the right thing in providing safe,
high-quality cannabis to our medical patients who need it have a good
quality of life," Lindsay said. "I thought we had a forward-thinking
city council, but they continue to disappoint me on this issue."
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MAP posted-by: Matt