9 illegal marijuana dispensaries in Vancouver ordered to close by BC courts

Jun 1 2019, 3:18 am

Saying that it’s “pleased with the decision,” the City of Vancouver announced on Friday that the BC Court of Appeal has ordered nine illegal marijuana dispensaries in the city to shut down.

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The decision means that the illegal marijuana dispensaries named in the suit must close pending the outcome of their appeal of the BC Supreme Court decision from December 13, 2018.

The nine stores are:

  • Canna Clinic 2347 at E Hastings Street
  • Green Cross Society Of BC at  2145 Kingsway
  • Karuna Health Foundation & Metta Lounge at 3636 W 4th Avenue
  • Lotusland Cannabis Club at 3474 W Broadway
  • The Medicinal Cannabis Dispensary at 880 E Hastings Street
  • WEEDS at 1808 Burrard Street
  • WEEDS at 2580 Kingsway
  • WEEDS at 6657 Main Street
  • WEEDS at 1108 Richards Street

In total, the city filed 53 injunctions against marijuana-related businesses operating outside its regulations in April 2016, when enforcement action started.

Some of those operators closed before a decision was rendered by the court in December 2018.

The city expects that the nine stores that participated in the test case and remain open will obey the court’s order and close immediately.

“If they do not comply with the order the city will seek to have them found in contempt of court,” the city said, in a release.

Legal operations

As of May 30, 2019, the city said it has issued six cannabis retail licences to the following businesses:

  • City Cannabis Co. 610 Robson Street
  • City Cannabis Co. 7289 Fraser Street
  • Evergreen Cannabis 2868 West 4th Avenue
  • Hobo 8425 Granville Street
  • Hobo 4296 Main Street
  • Muse Cannabis Store 3039 Granville Street

“Receipt of a municipal business licence is the final step for cannabis retail outlets to legally operate a cannabis retail store in Vancouver,” the city said. “Cannabis retail outlets must also hold a municipal development permit and a provincial cannabis retail licence.”

Going forward, the city said it is continuing to review applications received from the BC government for recommendations for a provincial cannabis licence, and is doing “everything possible” to coordinate with the province and the operators to complete these steps quickly.

To date, the city has received 39 notifications from the province for Vancouver applications.

A total of 26 applicants have completed the public notification requirement and have been recommended to the province for approval.

Eric ZimmerEric Zimmer

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