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North Van District debates where and how to sell cannabis

Sales of legalized marijuana through government-run stores would be better than the “dispensary” model, most councillors say
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The MMJ marijuana dispensary on Pemberton Avenue opened despite a municipal ban. Council recently voted to pursue the shop’s operators in court | Paul McGrath, North Shore News

Most District of North Vancouver councillors say they’d rather see legalized marijuana sold out of government-run stores than the current “dispensary” model.

One councillor doesn’t see why the government needs to be involved.

But regardless of whether sales are public or private, council members definitely want a say about where marijuana is sold.

Those were some of the thoughts that came from a council workshop Tuesday where councillors provided input that will go to the province as part of a wider public consultation into marijuana legalization.

The federal government has set July 2018 as the date for legalizing recreational marijuana. But many of the details around that – including how and where cannabis can be sold, rules around public consumption of pot, and road safety laws – will be up to the province to regulate.

Coun. Jim Hanson said distributing marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol makes the most sense to him. “It’s like the bureau of sin or whatever,” he said. “Let’s have one set of rules.”

Hanson acknowledged not everyone agrees with him. “I said this at (the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention) and I was set upon by a lot of critics,” he said. “Their view is the people who are currently (in the marijuana business) are in a position to become lawful and regulated.”

But, he added, “I don’t think we owe the people who are currently operating illegally a great deference.”

Coun. Doug MacKay-Dunn agreed.

Coun. Robin Hicks said he doesn’t know why the government has to be involved in either marijuana or alcohol distribution and sales, noting plenty of products with the potential to be bad for people are left to the private sector.

All council members agreed; however, they’d like a say in where shops selling marijuana are allowed.

MacKay-Dunn recalled how residents reacted when a pot shop tried to open near a school in Deep Cove. “The community went ballistic,” he said.

Dan Milburn, manager of planning and permits for the district, said the possibilities for regulating marijuana stores are likely similar to approaches municipalities have in place for liquor stores. Some communities allow liquor stores in any commercial zones, while others only allow them on a case-by-case basis, taking into account factors like proximity to schools and other stores nearby.

Currently, marijuana dispensaries are illegal throughout North Vancouver. Despite that, five shops currently operate in the City of North Vancouver. One shop that opened in the district last year on Marine Drive was shuttered after the municipality went to court to get an injunction. Since then another pot shop, the MMJ dispensary, has opened on Pemberton Avenue. Earlier this month, district council voted to direct lawyers to go after that shop through the courts as well.

Besides sales and distribution of marijuana, the province will also have to consider issues like whether public consumption of pot will be allowed, said Milburn.

“I have to say I’ve seen people drunk and I’ve seen people stoned, and drunks are a lot more obnoxious,” said Mayor Richard Walton.

Under the proposed federal law, households will be able to grow up to four pot plants for personal use and individuals will be permitted to possess up to 30 grams of marijuana – equivalent to about 30 joints – for personal use, said Milburn.

“I wouldn’t want plants to be visible from the street,” said MacKay-Dunn. “That’s an invitation for a break-in.”

Councillors also pondered the possibility of people using community garden plots to grow marijuana.

Walton said he doubted that would be an issue. “If someone wanted to fill up their plot at a community garden it would be hit the first night and there would be nothing left,” he said. Hicks wondered aloud whether legalization is likely to significantly increase the number of people who use marijuana. Milburn said data from states that have already legalized pot is mixed.

A joint provincial-local government committee will begin meeting this week to discuss many of the same issues around marijuana regulation.

The public can also weigh in directly on the issues until Nov. 1 at engage.gov.bc.ca/BCCannabisregulation/.