Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C.'s Local Governments Vote For Power Over Pot Shops Despite Federal Stance

The Canadian Press, 25 Sep, 2015 12:44 PM
    VANCOUVER — Local governments in British Columbia have declared they have the authority to licence medical marijuana dispensaries, defying the federal government's opposition to regulation of the illegal stores.
     
    Delegates at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention voted in favour of a resolution endorsing the position that they have the power to regulate pot dispensaries.
     
    The resolution states that an ongoing court challenge of Ottawa's medical marijuana laws has created uncertainty while pot shops proliferate and cause problems in B.C.
     
    Vancouver Coun. Heather Deal said the vote sends a strong message to the federal government, which has not provided reasonable legal access to medical marijuana despite court rulings requiring them to do so.
     
    "We have to do it because they're not doing their job. They are continuing to be at odds with the federal courts," she said after the vote.
     
    "That leaves cities in the untenable position of not being able to deal with a product that is legal, yet opposed by the federal government. We have to use the controls and the tools that we have."
     
    Vancouver recently became the first city in Canada to approve regulation of its 100 marijuana shops, imposing a $30,000 licence fee and requiring the shops to locate 300 metres from schools, community centres and each other. Victoria is considering similar rules.
     
    Municipalities in B.C. already have the power to regulate land use through bylaws, but the resolution marks a symbolic strike against the federal government's handling of medical pot.
     
    Corisa Bell, a Maple Ridge councillor and president of the Lower Mainland Local Government Association — which brought the resolution — told the crowd of local politicians that something needed to be done to curb the explosion of illegal stores.
     
    "This rapid growth of unregulated businesses poses a significant risk to our youth, public health, and has an impact on our local economy," she said.
     
    "If, however, they are carefully managed and regulated, these businesses can play a role in improving the health conditions that affect numerous people."
     
    Selling pot over the counter is illegal in Canada regardless of whether it's medical or recreational. Health Canada recently sent letters to 13 dispensaries warning of RCMP raids if they did not shut down, though Mounties have not yet acted on those threats.
     
    Esquimalt Coun. Susan Low spoke against the resolution, saying it was the responsibility of the federal government and the courts to regulate medical marijuana, not that of local governments.
     
    "Medical marijuana is a health service. That's not part of local government's jurisdiction. I'd be very uncomfortable trying to do that. I'm not qualified to do that," she said after the vote.
     
    "Right now, medical marijuana dispensaries are illegal, so in Esquimalt we won't be issuing business licences for them. We simply can't licence someone to do something that's illegal."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Dalhousie University Student Charged With Murder Back In Court Next Month

    Dalhousie University Student Charged With Murder Back In Court Next Month
    The case of a 22-year-old man charged in the death of a fellow student at Dalhousie University in Halifax will return to court next month.

    Dalhousie University Student Charged With Murder Back In Court Next Month

    Harper Enters French Debate With Political Allies But Bloc Backing On Niqab

    Harper Enters French Debate With Political Allies But Bloc Backing On Niqab
    OTTAWA — Stephen Harper doesn't have a reputation as a gambler, but his 2015 federal election call is shaping up as an all-or-nothing bet on another Conservative majority.

    Harper Enters French Debate With Political Allies But Bloc Backing On Niqab

    Merritt, B.C., Demonstrators Fight Biosolids, Arguing Sewage Sludge Unsafe

    First Nations and members of the group Friends of the Nicola Valley are demonstrating outside the convention, hoping to convince delegates that dumping the biosolid material is unsafe.

    Merritt, B.C., Demonstrators Fight Biosolids, Arguing Sewage Sludge Unsafe

    La Presse Laying Off 158 Workers As It Ends Weekday Printed Edition

    La Presse Laying Off 158 Workers As It Ends Weekday Printed Edition
    Montreal La Presse is laying off 158 employees as it prepares to eliminate its weekday printed newspaper in January.

    La Presse Laying Off 158 Workers As It Ends Weekday Printed Edition

    U.S. court to rule on settlement fund for victims of Lac-Megantic rail disaster

    U.S. court to rule on settlement fund for victims of Lac-Megantic rail disaster
     A bankruptcy judge in Maine is set to rule on a $338 million US settlement fund for victims of the 2013 train derailment in Lac-Megantic, Que., that claimed 47 lives.

    U.S. court to rule on settlement fund for victims of Lac-Megantic rail disaster

    Akal Takht Pardons Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh

    Akal Takht Pardons Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh
    The Akal Takht -- the highest temporal seat of the Sikh religion -- on Thursday said it has pardoned Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh following a written apology from him.

    Akal Takht Pardons Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh