Two months after it was closed down by a police raid, the 91原创 Medical Marijuana Dispensary has reopened in the same location under its original management.
Immediately following the July 19 visit by 91原创 RCMP officers, dispensary founder Randy Caine said someone else would have to take on the task of distributing medicinal marijuana.
But since then, Caine said, there have been encouraging signs of support in the community, enough for him to reopen.
"I'm not seeing the community batting an eye."
A petition of support has raised more than 1,200 names so far, "a high level of support" in a small community like the City of 91原创, Caine said.
The petition calls for a medical marijuana access 鈥減ilot project鈥� in 91原创 like the safe injection site that operates in Vancouver.
Caine has still not been charged with a criminal offence in connection with the July raid.
"This is not a Criminal Code issue," Caine said.
"It is, and remains, a Health Canada regulatory matter."
He doesn't expect another police raid.
"It would be something I would find disturbing."
In previous interviews, Caine said the dispensary was a response to a lack of legitimate sources of marijuana for 91原创 medicinal users.
He maintained that
it reduced crime because legitimate patients didn't have to buy from the criminal element, something the police should appreciate.
91原创 RCMP said they raided Caine鈥檚 dispensary in response to 鈥渘umerous ongoing complaints from the community and area residents.鈥�
One of the complaints came from 91原创 City Councillor Rudy Storteboom, who owns an office next to the dispensary.
Storteboom went to Mayor Peter Fassbender after there was a break-in at Caine鈥檚 premises.
Both confirmed there was a discussion in which the councillor expressed concern about the dispensary to the mayor, and Fassbender advised Storteboom to take it up with the building strata council.
In a letter to The Times, 91原创 RCMP Supt. Derek Cooke said based on the dispensary website, Caine was not distributing pot according to federal Health Canada regulations.
Cooke said there were legal alternatives to a medical dispensary for 鈥渓egitimately licensed individuals to obtain marijuana.鈥�
He said patients can buy it from Health Canada or grow their own.
Photo: Randy Caine in the entry foyer of the 91原创 Medical Marijuana Dispensary with manager Carol Gwilt.
Dan FERGUSON / 91原创 Times
