It was business as usual for most Nanaimo medical marijuana dispensaries yesterday, despite a letter from the RCMP threatening to 'arrest all employees and patrons on site,' if the establishments continued to operate. The cease-and-desist letter was handed to 10 pot dispensary owners and managers on Nov. 12. The letter gave owners seven calendar days to shut down or possibly face criminal charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The threat encouraged owners, managers and supporters to gather for at least two meetings to discuss how to respond. Almost all Nanaimo dispensaries stayed open Thursday. None had been raided by the RCMP by the end of the working day. [continues 261 words]
While parents often feel like the teacher in Charlie Brown when they're talking to their teens, the truth is that what they say matters. And kids are listening. Sure, they might glaze over after the tenth time you've asked them to clean their room this week, but when it comes to drugs and alcohol, they are listening. "What you say and do matters," said Dr. Marvin Krank, who recently gave a public presentation at Vernon Secondary School titled Talking To Your Kids About Drugs. [continues 320 words]
Methadone-dispensing fees that are the focus of legal action in British Columbia must be charged to secure crucial support services for recovering addicts, says a doctor from Vancouver Island. Dr. Jane Clelland said while the province pays for physicians and drugs, public money doesn't cover counselling, which she called necessary. Counselling is also a service supported by the B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons. "They don't expect you just to see the patient, they expect you to provide a program," Clelland said in an interview about the medical-licensing and regulatory body. [continues 300 words]
Counselling a crucial part of the process for recovering addicts Methadone-dispensing fees that are the focus of legal action in British Columbia must be charged to secure crucial support services for recovering addicts, says a doctor from Vancouver Island. Dr. Jane Clelland said while the province pays for physicians and drugs, public money doesn't cover counselling, which she called necessary. Counselling is also a service supported by the B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons. "They don't expect you just to see the patient, they expect you to provide a program," Clelland said in an interview about the medical-licensing and regulatory body. [continues 229 words]
Study finds those injecting only prescription medication least likely to overdose as opposed to heroin A new study out of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS suggests it's actually safer to inject prescription opioid drugs often obtained illegally by users than the more commonly used heroin. With prescription drugs, said Dr. Thomas Kerr, it's much easier for users to inject consistent amounts - as the original product was labelled and likely comes from a pharmacy - and this helps lower the risk of overdose. [continues 236 words]
Controversial charges might not be collected from the best sources, physician argues, but counselling costs have to be covered Methadone-dispensing fees that are the focus of legal action in British Columbia must be charged to secure crucial support services for recovering addicts, a doctor from Vancouver Island says. Dr. Jane Clelland said while the province pays for physicians and drugs, public money doesn't cover counselling, which she called necessary. Counselling is also a service supported by the B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons. [continues 584 words]
Re: Nanaimo RCMP set to snuff out dispensaries, Nov. 14 So the Nanaimo RCMP has decided to get their licks in while they can, before the federal legislation on cannabis is changed. Perhaps they do not welcome the changes. They have been for years seizing people's property and prosecuting them for growing marijuana. Now, a substance British Columbians consume seems likely to be reclassified from a dangerous "narcotic" to a consumer commodity. I would encourage the RCMP to refocus their energies on more productive avenues. Kathleen O'Brien Vancouver [end]
To the Editor, Re: Pot dispensaries advised by RCMP to close up shop, Nov. 17. I am writing after reading your article and wish to state our support for the RCMP doing their job - which is to uphold the Criminal Code of Canada. The dispensaries or pot stores are a public health threat. There is a legal method for people to get marijuana for a medical purpose which is the Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations and it is correct for the RCMP to act in closing the pot stores operating in Nanaimo. They pose a public health threat and the operators were willing to flaunt the law - act above the law in both purchasing marijuana for resale and reselling it on the main streets of Nanaimo. We have ways to change laws in this country and if you do not like the law you do not just break it and suggest others do the same. Pamela McColl Smart Approaches to Marijuana Canada [end]
To the Editor, Re: Pot dispensaries advised by RCMP to close up shop, Nov. 17. Considering Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's mandate, last week, to Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, to begin the process of legalizing and regulating cannabis in Canada, isn't it time for any and all police agencies along with the RCMP to put a moratorium on terrorizing and extorting cannabis dispensaries? Stephen Harper is history and cannabis prohibition will soon be history; all that's left is formalities and calling the dogs off citizens. Stan White Dillon, Colo. [end]
To the Editor, A municipal council can and does tell the local RCMP what community priorities are, which the police then apply to their community policing strategy - one that reflects the practices of the community they serve. So, Nanaimo council could have easily chosen to inform the local detachment that dispensaries are a very low-priority item, and they could have also politely requested that police leave the people's medicine providers alone. Our council chose not to do this. Since they have not, I am of the opinion that our council have given its implied consent to having the outlets raided and the medicine people need seized. Sad, yes, but also a cop out and a letdown of thousands of people. Terry Lee Wagar Nanaimo [end]
Nanaimo medical marijuana dispensaries will remain open, despite the threat of police enforcement. Medical marijuana dispensaries have reached out to government for clarity on potential new regulations and help in the lead-up to a deadline to stop selling marijuana. But dispensaries have no plans to close, according to the new Nanaimo Cannabis Coalition. "Our coalition has stated we will remain open =C2=85 because people need their medicine," said Matthew O'Donnell, coalition spokesman. Ten medical marijuana dispensaries were given notice last Thursday by the Nanaimo RCMP to stop selling marijuana and marijuana derivatives in seven days or they could face police enforcement, including the arrest of employees and patrons. [continues 293 words]
The mayors of two of Vancouver Island's biggest cities are calling on the federal Liberal government to advise them what to do with the illegal pot shops cropping up in their communities and explain more of what the path to promised legalization could look like. This week, Victoria city council will debate a pot-shop bylaw proposal similar to the one Vancouver passed in June, while Nanaimo's mayor is trying to ease tensions between operators of 10 dispensaries and the local RCMP detachment, which has threatened to raid the stores if they do not stop illegally trafficking cannabis by the end of this week. [continues 585 words]
A spokesman for Nanaimo's retail cannabis industry says he has no plans to comply with a cease-and-desist order issued by RCMP. Phoenix Pain Management is one of 10 pot dispensaries given seven days notice to stop selling the drug late last week, and has until Thursday to cease operations. If RCMP raid the store, "I will hand them a box with the product then hold out my hands," said Akil Iam, managing director of the Wallace Street facility, which has about 1,200 clients. [continues 224 words]
It's an issue that requires a very quick resolution. As we reported last week, the Nanaimo RCMP has started issuing warnings to marijuana dispensaries to close their doors or face closure and possible prosecution. Police issued letters to several cannabis businesses in Nanaimo to shut down within seven days or risk arrest, seizures and possible prosecution for cannabis trafficking. The decision has drawn criticism and the question of "why now?" Health Canada issued warnings in late summer that dispensaries would be closed, and in September a handful of cease-and-desist orders were issued across Canada. [continues 408 words]
Ladner man getting closer to developing roadside screening device for police use A local man's efforts to create a breathalyzer to test for marijuana are getting closer to having the device in the hands of police. Ladner's Kal Malhi, a retired RCMP officer, has been working on developing a roadside breathalyzer since last year. In August, his company, Cannabix Technologies, signed an agreement with the Yost Research Group at the University of Florida. The partners have developed a prototype and begun testing. Malhi said right now they're getting accurate readings about 80 per cent of the time and the team is working to refine the system to reach 100 per cent accuracy. [continues 313 words]
I recently watched a very inspirational Ted Talk by a Vancouver doctor named Gabor Mate. He has been working for a number of years with people who struggle with addictions and are thus marginalized. He has had great success in helping people live to their potential, and his insights and compassion are extraordinary. Mate defines addiction as "any behaviour that gives you temporary relief, temporary pleasure, but in the long term causes harm." Given this definition, it is easy to see that we can be addicted to anything, from drugs to technology, to shopping, to power. In our society, many of us are addicted to something. We would rather do anything than be alone with our thoughts. [continues 430 words]
Medical marijuana dispensary managers plan a united front and appeals to government in the wake of an ultimatum from the Nanaimo RCMP to shut down shop or face arrests. The Nanaimo RCMP put 10 medical marijuana dispensaries on notice Thursday that they had seven days to stop the sale of marijuana and marijuana derivatives or they could be subject to police enforcement. Medical marijuana shops have been growing in number in Nanaimo, selling bud, tinctures and marijuana-infused brownies. Written notice, given to dispensaries by the RCMP, advises the establishments that they are operating illegally and are trafficking cannabis contrary to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and operating outside of Health Canada regulations. If the pot shops don't close, they will be subject to enforcement that includes arrests of employees and patrons, seizure of "offence-related" property and criminal prosecutions. [continues 685 words]
Victoria's Leader Wants Input by Senior Government The City of Victoria has proposed rules for pot shops that differ from Vancouver's new regulations governing marijuana dispensaries, prompting Victoria's mayor to call for uniform rules to avoid confusion across B.C. A report going before Victoria city council on Thursday recommends much cheaper business licence fees for marijuana dispensaries - around $4,000 compared to $30,000 in Vancouver - and a 200-metre buffer zone between pot shops and schools instead of 300 metres in Vancouver. Meanwhile in Nanaimo, officials are cracking down on local dispensaries. [continues 318 words]
Nanaimo RCMP has started issuing warnings to marijuana retailers to close their doors or face closure and possible prosecution. Police officers issued letters to several cannabis dispensaries in Nanaimo to shut their doors within seven days or risk arrest, seizures and possible prosecution for cannabis trafficking. "I am absolutely disgusted," said Brandy Cavanagh, manager of Mid-Island Health and Wellness Association. She said the society that operates the dispensary caters only to patients who are licensed by Health Canada to use cannabis. [continues 187 words]
Licences to cost about $5,000, far less than for-profit dispensaries in Vancouver Marijuana dispensaries in Victoria will not have to pay a premium of tens of thousands of dollars for a business licence as their Vancouver counterparts do under proposals from city staff. While business licence costs are yet to be determined, city staff are recommending a fee based on cost recovery - likely in the range of $4,000 to $5,000. Mayor Lisa Helps said the sooner the new business licensing bylaw is brought in, the better. [continues 422 words]
Inside British Columbia
