Pot shop signs court order

Photo: Castanet Staff

A Penticton dispensary has signed on the dotted line, and formally agreed to stop selling cannabis.

A consent order filed in B.C. Supreme Court last week by the City of Penticton and Green Essence reveals an agreement between the two sides that sees the shop transition to a “wellness centre.”

The two parties told Castanet News last month they had reached the agreement, with the shop manager saying they are just trying to “not step on anybody’s toes.”

The court order bans Green Essence from selling, storing or advertising cannabis, while allowing for the sale of bongs, pipes and marijuana accessories. The shop is also allowed to advocate and educate customers about medical marijuana.

The agreement gives the city, fire and bylaw inspectors and RCMP access to the shop anytime between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. to enforce the order.  

The city will be able to pull the Green Essence Head Shop business license if an inspection finds marijuana sales on the premises.

Two other dispensaries operating in Penticton — Herbal Greens and Okanagan Cannabinoid Therapy — have yet to sign a similar agreement with the city.

In July Penticton city council voted to decline renewing temporary use permits for Okanagan Cannabinoid Therapy and Green Essence. With a complete lack of enforcement from the local police, the city previously attempted to regulate the shops as they began to proliferate in the community.

The owner of Herbal Greens, Jukka Laurio, traded lawsuits with the city after missing out on his own license to operate. The push to pull the licenses came from staff, who stated the temporary use permits contravened federal law and jeopardized their case against Laurio.

Laurio told Castanet in August he plans on complying with the order.

Okanagan Cannabinoid Therapy doesn’t speak to the media.