Penticton’s mayor says the decision to end the city’s experiment with licensing marijuana dispensaries brings the community in line with what is going on elsewhere in the Okanagan.
Andrew Jakubeit made the comments during this week’s Mayor’s Minute, adding the steps they took seven months ago were meant to be an “in between step” until legalization took place.
“At the end of the day, the Prime Minister is still saying the sale of marijuana is illegal and it's for the RCMP to enforce.”
Jakubeit said ending the permitting system also makes it a bit more “consistent in terms of injunctive action or for the RCMP.”
He pointed to a trio of letters sent in March by the Penticton RCMP, ordering both the two licensed dispensaries and an unlicensed shop to shut down, noting the local police consider them all illegal, permits or not.
Penticton city council created the licensing system in response to a sudden proliferation of dispensaries in the city in an attempt to regulate and keep them in check, in absence of police enforcement.
That appears to have worked partially, with just Jukka Laurio’s Herbal Greens defying the system and staying open after missing out a permit.
All three shops will be asked to transition to a “wellness centre” model, which would be able facilitate medical cannabis and sell paraphernalia, but not actually sell the drug.
With numerous dispensaries across the province operating and selling cannabis under a “wellness centre” banner, Jakubeit said bylaw and police would be expected to enforce the law should a local shop decide to continue to distribute cannabis.
“It is something for the RCMP to enforce, and the level of enforcement is a question best answered by Superintendent Ted De Jager.”
The Penticton RCMP have repeatedly declined elaborate on the issue in the past.