The City of West Âé¶čAV is attempting to have all six marijuana dispensaries operating within the city closed
Just days after cancelling the business license for marijuana dispensaries Black Crow Herbal Solutions and The Healing Club, West Âé¶čAV is moving against four other operations in the city, all of them operating a non-profit business model that doesnât need a business licence.
Kirsten Jones, spokeswoman for the city, said a letter is being sent to all six dispensaries informing them they are operating illegally, contrary to city bylaws, and must close.
But itâs unclear if the city and a related RCMP investigation will have its effect.
When contacted after his business licence was pulled at West Âé¶čAV council, a Black Crow Herbal director . For how long is the question.
Related: New UBCO study recommends allowing illegal shops to stay open
âAt this point, we are considering our next step,â said Jones, adding the city does have the ability to ticket companies that defy city rules.
And while West Âé¶čAV ponders its next move, some customers of the operations are asking how they will access medicinal marijuana if the shops close.
âI rely on The Healing Company for CBD which helps the inflammation in my back from debilitating degenerative disc disease,â wrote Marilyn Stante on the Capital News Facebook page. âI have a prescription from my doctor who believes this helps and so do I. Itâs either that or opioids. This is extremely disturbing for me and I know of many others in the same situation. Those of you who voted for this will not have my vote and I will encourage others to do the same.â
Leslie Flammand, a cancer survivor, who suffers a number of other illnesses including PTSD, left the West Âé¶čAV council meeting earlier this week in tears.
âI donât know what Iâm going to do,â she said wiping away tears as they rolled down her cheeks.
Robert Jaenicke, a director of Black Crow Herbalâquestioned the timing of the move.
âWhy now? Why after all this time? he asked the Vernon Morning Star in an interview. âIt doesnât make any sense to me because Iâve been operating now for three years. Iâm just not sure what their rush is now?â
In voting to cancel the licences, West Âé¶čAV councillors stated selling or marijuana was still illegal.
Coun. Rusty Ensign said he didnât like having to vote to cancel the business licences but said he had no choice because of the illegality of the sales. Coun. Rick DeJong said he voted to cancel because of both the illegality and because of concerns about the lack of a regulatory program to ensure the quality of the cannabis being sold.
With the federal government moving to marijuana legalization next year it will be up to the provincial government to announce a plan to distribute the product. However there has been no government announcement yet.
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