Abbotsford runs pot shops out of town while Vancouver regulates
Abbotsford pot shops weeded out as mayor says they are illegal
The city of Abbotsford is weeding out pot shops, while Vancouver moves to apply sweeping licensing and regulatory changes to limit medical marijuana dispensaries to 15 or 20.
"We don't want to see them in Abbotsford, and we will move to have them removed," said Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun, who also said he believes federal law still deems these shops illegal.
Don Briere co-runs the two Abbotsford shops ordered shut recently.
He also runs Vancouver's largest medical dispensary, Weeds and Glass Limited. He has no plans to close down despite two notices ordering him to stop selling.
"We see it as a misuse of our resources. We know [marijuana] works. It's not a dangerous drug."
Briere co-runs the shops in Abbotsford and plans to fight to keep them open.
"If I see that there's something funny going on, or favouritism seems to be going on, then I would consider filing a misuse of public resources action in civil court and sue for money."
Briere has been refused a business licence twice already. He's applied for nine new business licences hoping one or two would be approved, and he's expanding into neighbouring municipalities, including Burnaby.
Briere may face difficulties because he has a criminal record. He's been imprisoned twice for pot-related offences.
New rules in Vancouver will limit dispensaries near schools and ban owners with criminal records.
176 applications
Vancouver Coun. Kerry Jang estimated this week that only 15 to 20 dispensaries will be approved after the city processes a whopping 176 applications for business licences.
Owners, who are expecting rejection letters, say the initial red light from the city will only mark the beginning of a months-long process of appeals and even legal action.
With Files from Canadian Press