The mayor of Nanaimo, B.C., says he has no power to stop local Mounties from raiding pot dispensaries even as municipal staff study whether to regulate the illegal storefronts and the federal Liberals prepare to legalize the drug. The local RCMP detachment in the Vancouver Island city executed search warrants on Tuesday morning at three pot shops.

The Mounties said they received complaints from citizens that the stores sold to minors, had people on the street waving advertisements and sold or gave cannabis to people without legal medical prescriptions.

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Once Legal, Pot Could Be Sold Responsibly Through Existing Channels, Alliance Says

British Columbians could be able to buy B.C. bud with their Budweiser if private liquor stores and a major union get their way.

The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union has partnered with the B.C. Private Liquor Store Association to push for the sale of recreational marijuana in public and private liquor stores - if and when the federal government legalizes the drug.

It should be sold in a socially responsible way, "in an age-controlled environment with a proven track record of ID checks, and that's what we currently have within our liquor stores," BCGEU president Stephanie Smith said Wednesday.

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Union and liquor store association join forces to advocate for 'responsible'marijuana sales

British Columbians may soon be able to buy recreational bud along with their beer in local liquor stores if two groups have their way.

The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union and the B.C. Private Liquor Store Association have joined forces to call for legal marijuana to be sold through the existing alcohol retail system. The partnership, called the Responsible Marijuana Retail Alliance of B.C., advocates for pot to be available in liquor stores by Christmas 2016.

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Pot Should Be Sold in 'Most Socially Responsible Way Possible'

British Columbians may eventually be able to buy recreational marijuana along with their beer in local liquor stores, if two groups have their way.

The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union and the B.C. Private Liquor Store Association have joined forces to call for legalized pot to be sold through the alcohol retail system.

The partnership, called the Responsible Marijuana Retail Alliance of B.C., advocates pot be available in liquor stores by Christmas 2016.

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British Columbians may soon be able to buy recreational bud along with their beer, if private liquor stores and the union representing workers in government-owned stores get their way.

The BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) and the B.C. Private Liquor Store Association have joined forces to call for legal marijuana to be sold through the existing alcohol retail system, in both government and private stores.

The partnership, called the Responsible Marijuana Retail Alliance of B.C., advocates for pot to be available in liquor stores by Christmas of 2016.

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Late one evening last February, Sarah Bowman was on her way home when she was approached by two RCMP officers at the Edmonds SkyTrain Station in Burnaby.

She had just smoked a joint, Bowman recounted in a telephone interview, but she didn't think she was in real trouble. Bowman explained that she had a doctor's prescription for the drug and had obtained it with that document at a medicinal-marijuana dispensary in Vancouver.

"I saw police officers making the rounds, so I threw my joint away," she said. "They walked straight up to me, a gentleman showed me his badge, grabbed my hands, and handcuffed me without me even responding."

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Three Marijuana Dispensaries Raided, Occupants Removed in Handcuffs

The RCMP raided three Nanaimo marijuana storefronts and arrested several dispensary employees Tuesday morning.

Trees, on Bowen Road, Phoenix Pain Management, on Wallace Street, and Nature's Source Society, on Front Street, were the three shops targeted.

Police said they took action against the dispensaries after receiving 'several' complaints from the public. In one case, the police allege, a 15-year-old girl had purchased marijuana from a storefront.

"When I have reports of storefronts selling marijuana to youth and concerned community members approaching me about it, we are compelled to take enforcement action," said Nanaimo RCMP Supt. Mark Fisher in a press release.

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ARRESTS MADE, products seized at three locations.

Empty jars, T-shirts and the lingering smell of marijuana were nearly all that was left at Limelife Society dispensary Tuesday, as the owner closed up shop in the wake of police raids.

Hash, bud, cookies and candy advertised in an online store menu were gone from the Nicol Street storefront. Twin paper cups had been left on a coffee table next to a crinkled scrap of rolling paper and a Nintendo controller, there were boxes of rolling paper on a shelf and the fridge was almost bare.

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Over this past year, as an organizer for Sensible BC, I have contacted representatives of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, the Central Okanagan Parent Advisory Council and - repeatedly - Premier Christy Clark's office, with the offer to meet and discuss the ramifications of the impending marijuana legalization.

As an organization, Sensible BC has medical professionals, clinical researchers, growers, patients and dispensary representatives that can provide the necessary expertise which allow our communities to transition from prohibition to a legal, regulated industry. Thus far, none of those contacted have shown any interest in discussing this issue.

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Re: "Feds should act on marijuana," editorial, Nov. 24.

Since liquor is a controlled substance and available at a few outlets, why can't marijuana be under the same umbrella (as well as cigarettes), and all be sold at a federally controlled outlet by trained personnel?

Lynda Boyd Victoria

[end]

Local medicinal marijuana advocates are asking Fernie city council to consider overriding a bylaw prohibiting them from receiving a business license.

The group, led by James Gittens, is interested in opening a medicinal marijuana dispensary, enabling patients to have access to high quality marijuana for medicinal purposes. Gittens said he is hoping that the City of Fernie will take a proactive approach to the issue.

"We are hoping that they will be proactive because what is happening across Canada is that there is a plethora of black market dispensaries opening without any oversight by the municipal government. We are looking for a really proactive approach. This is coming," he said.

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Fernie city council was approached on Nov. 9 about overriding a portion of the business license bylaw so that a medical marijuana dispensary could open in Fernie. I'm sure there are many in our community who know first-hand the powerful medicinal properties of marijuana.

I thank Mayor Giuliano and Council for taking the time to listen to our presentation, so that we might begin to do important work for the residents of the Elk Valley.

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The District of Sechelt isn't interested in licensing and regulating medicinal marijuana dispensaries until the federal laws change.

S&M Sweet Shoppe co-owner Michelle Sikora made a pitch for regulation and licensing of dispensaries at the Nov. 18 council meeting, but council wasn't receptive.

"Nobody on council indicated any interest in getting any further staff reports or knowledge, so it sort of slid at that point back into administrative limbo," said Sechelt Mayor Bruce Milne following the meeting.

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A torn city council approved a set of medical marijuana dispensary regulations that will keep such businesses away from schools and residential areas, but still allow them in the city.

A report from city planner Scott Smith outlined amendments to the zoning bylaw to keep the dispensaries in commercial and business zones only, keeping them away from schools and residential areas.

"As we're all aware, under the current law it is illegal to sell marijuana as a storefront operation," said Smith.

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Local cannabis dispensary operators feel they've made headway in the push for regulation similar to that seen in Vancouver and Victoria.

Canadian Association of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries president Jamie Shaw appeared at before Nanaimo city council's committee of the whole meeting this week with a pitch for municipal control of medical pot dispensaries.

Council heard her out, and while no motions were passed on the subject, dispensary operators were pleased by the discussion Shaw's appearance generated.

"I think any dialogue is a step in the right direction," said Matt Henstock, community advocate with Phoenix Pain Management.

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CITY STAFF concerned for children's safety at Maffeo Sutton Park

Twelve drug needles found dumped in Maffeo Sutton Park children's playground this fall was a shock to city horticulturalist Margaret Mills, who says it's a rare find and "very upsetting."

But it's nothing new for the downtown community, which is grappling with an uptick in discarded drug paraphernalia.

A parent alerted Mills, who maintains the waterfront park, on Oct. 20 that there were 12 needles left in the children's playground. Six were still in a package, while the other half were used.

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Dispensaries Hope They'll Get a Reprieve

Police have taken no enforcement action against medical marijuana dispensaries since the deadline for storefronts to shut down passed last week, giving the Nanaimo Cannabis Coalition hope it's won a cooling-off period.

But the Nanaimo RCMP never said enforcement would come on day eight or nine, says Supt. Mark Fisher.

Ten medical marijuana dispensaries were given a seven-day deadline from the Nanaimo RCMP on Nov. 12 to shut down or face potential enforcement, including arrests of employees and patrons on site.

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The City of Victoria shouldn't be regulating marijuana dispensaries, but it doesn't have much choice. Given lack of federal action and regulations, the city must do what it can to bring some order to the wild-west marijuana trade. The city is seeking public input on its proposed regulations for licensing marijuana dispensaries, a necessary step to keep pot shops from popping up on every corner. That's not much of an exaggeration - about 18 months ago, only four marijuana-related businesses were in operation in the city. There are now 23 and probably more on the way.

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Squamish currently has no restrictions on dispensaries

Squamish may soon have a marijuana dispensary policy.

District staff is currently working on devising a policy after Councillor Susan Chapelle put forward a motion at council last week that staff look at marijuana dispensary business licensing. The motion called for adequate fees and zoning including setbacks from inappropriate locations.

"We have no bylaws that restrict dispensaries. For the safety of the public, we need to restrict areas close to schools and public buildings," Chapelle told The Squamish Chief.

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Council votes to move ahead while federal regulations are developed

Victoria will take its proposed marijuana dispensary licensing regulations to the public for feedback.

City councillors earlier said they wanted to hear from the new federal government about its proposals for legalizing and regulating marijuana before proceeding with a business licensing bylaw.

The majority of council agreed Thursday with staff that there is value in consulting with the public on the city's proposed regulations while federal changes are being developed.

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