A tempest is brewing between Canada’s federal government and the City of Vancouver over marijuana.
Specifically: medical marijuana and the city’s plans to start regulating those who sell it. And lots of people do.
In the past two years the number of marijuana dispensaries in Vancouver had jumped from a dozen to over 80, about half of the dispensaries in Canada.
This is not sitting well with the governing Conservative Party in Ottawa. The Tories say the plan to regulate marijuana dispensaries is making drugs more accessible.
A spokesperson for federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose says marijuana use is illegal in Canada and the government expects all local cities and police to respect and enforce the law.
Despite the criticism, the City of Vancouver plans to move ahead on the matter.
Vision Vancouver City Councillor Kerry Jang has taken the lead on the need for regulation, which could see–among other things–$30,000 licensing fees for dispensaries and rules that dispensaries must be at least 300 metres from schools and community centres.
He spoke to RCI from Vancouver.
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