The City of Vancouver followed through on its threat to punish unlicenced marijuana dispensaries this weekend.
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Regulation began a year ago when the medical marijuana business began growing across Vancouver, but the city refused to grant permits to 140 dispensaries because they didn’t comply with rules such as being too close to schools.
Andreea Toma, the city’s chief licensing inspector, said last week that shops that haven’t been granted a business license must pay $250 for every day they remain open and the city could also pursue court action, including a $10,000 fine or an injunction order forcing stores to close.
“I am not one who has shut down or will be shutting down any time soon”, said Chuck Varabioff, owner of B.C. Pain Society on Commercial Drive.
Jodie Emery says Vancouver’s new medical marijuana dispensary rules are unjustifiable.
“If they want to keep fining me, I’ll keep piling (the tickets) up and decide what to do with them”.
The City of Vancouver has begun cracking down on unlicensed medical marijuana shops, but owners say they’re still committed to keeping their doors open.
“Their marijuana and my marijuana come from the same source”, he said.
It is not immediately clear how many unlicensed medical marijuana dispensaries Vancouver has, though the city said it has refused 140 permits for marijuana-related businesses.
The city said bylaw officers started enforcing that deadline Saturday by giving each of 23 pot shops a $250 fine for remaining open, according to a press release.
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The city says it has issued a total 44 violations. “If they come back on Friday and slap me with a ticket for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, I hope they have proof”.
