Pubdate: Thu, 01 Feb 2018
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2018 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Page: A11

CRACKING DOWN ON POT

The City of Victoria just got some help from the courts in reining in
the Wild West of marijuana shops in the municipality. At least 32
cannabis shops have popped up all over town in the past few years, and
in 2016, the city brought in regulations to try to bring some order to
the frontier. Other municipalities took a zero-tolerance approach,
shutting them down whenever they appeared.

Whether one saw Victoria's attitude as caving in to lawlessness or
acknowledging reality, it wasn't clear if the rules would stick if
they were challenged.

Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson of the B.C. Supreme Court laid that
question to rest when he granted the city an injunction to shut down
the Green Dragon Medicinal Society.

Green Dragon operated at 541 Herald St., and it applied for rezoning
so it could get a business licence that would allow it to continue
operating. The city refused because the shop is 155 metres from
Chinese Public School at 636 Fisgard St., and zoning prohibits pot
stores within 200 metres of schools.

With the injunction, the city is confident its bylaws have some teeth,
and it can go after some of the scofflaws that have continued to
operate after they were rejected.
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MAP posted-by: Matt