A new group calling itself the Coalition For Dispensary Free Communities surfaced this week and is urging the public to sign a petition and support its call to oppose the city’s proposal to regulate marijuana dispensaries.
The group set up a website and has Facebook and Twitter accounts aimed at convincing city council to oppose the city staff's proposal, which goes to public hearing next Wednesday. The city wants to regulate the growing number of pot shops, which total more than 80 at the city’s last count, by charging an annual $30,000 licence fee, require criminal record checks and ensure the businesses are at least 300 metres from a school or community centre.
“The Coalition For Dispensary Free Communities believes the ongoing proliferation of illegal narcotics dispensaries in Vancouver must be stopped and existing federal laws should be enforced,” the coalition writes on its website, which has a link to a petition. “We are a group of concerned citizens who have come together to gather opposition, to stand up and say ‘No’ and to tell the mayor and council to prohibit these illegal businesses.”
The Courier attempted to contact the founders of the group but was not successful before deadline.
The group’s formation comes as the city kicks off the first night of public hearings June 10 on the city’s proposal to regulate the pot shops. Health Minister Rona Ambrose has already stated her opposition to the proposal in letters to Mayor Gregor Robertson, and the federal Liberals have announced their support for the city’s move.
The dispensary-free group says the city’s proposal will “neither address the continued proliferation of, nor prevent the negative impacts” that pot shops have in the city. Police reported two break-ins and a robbery connected to three pot shops over the weekend. Police also recently temporarily shut down a dispensary in Kitsilano after a 15-year-old allegedly got sick from consuming a marijuana-laced product.
“Imagine a new neighbour tells you they are planning to open a narcotic dispensary,” the group writes. “You ask around and quickly discover, to your astonishment, that the City of Vancouver has absolutely no problem with this. The dispensary meets the city’s new criteria. You have little or no sway over the city approving the application.”
The group’s website, which features a map of the city’s dispensaries, outlines the group’s health, safety and economic concerns related to the pot shops. The group cites a Health Canada study, federal regulations and dangers of pot outlined by the RCMP.
“By approving a plan that would permit the licensing of these illegal businesses in our community, the police and city government are sending a message to residents [including our youth] that illegal activity is not only acceptable but that authorities would rather control the location of these activities than enforce the law,” the coalition writes. “In essence, they are potentially creating crime ‘ghettos.’”
Supt. Mike Porteous, who oversees the Vancouver Police Department’s major crime section, spoke briefly to council at the April meeting at which city staff presented a report on the proposed regulations for pot shops.
He told council that police do respond to concerns about pot shops, despite complaints to city hall about the lack of enforcement on the illegal operations.
“I don’t want council to be confused to think that the police don’t do enforcement on these shops,” he said. “If it’s aggravated or it’s not in the public interest, or there’s a level of danger or organized crime or risk to children, we will do enforcement.”
The hearing begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
@Howellings
