The Nanaimo Cannabis Coalition pleaded with Council Monday night to reach out to the RCMP on their behalf.
Coalition member Matt O’Donnell says the RCMP’s threat to shut down all Nanaimo dispensaries later this week will hurt those who rely on cannabis as medication.
Councillor Jim Kipp, echoed the mayor and others, saying there’s little the City can do. “I’m sure they (RCMP) have their reasons,” he says. “We don’t mandate the RCMP, we don’t have that ability.”
O’Donnell says the Coalition is asking for a letter to local RCMP requesting a “cooling off period”, before any enforcement action.
“Lending your voice, and asking the RCMP for this cooling off period would go a long way in protecting the thousands of medicinal cannabis users in Nanaimo who are not criminals,” he says.
Councillors seem to agree more discussion is needed, but they stopped short of voting to send the letter to RCMP.
When asked by Coast FM if this (the cease and desist letter) is being done at the request of City officials, RCMP HQ, or as an independent detachment-level initiative, Nanaimo RCMP responded:
“Our actions are related to our ongoing commitment to public safety and community safety initiatives. It is important that our position be made very clear and therefore we have notified the businesses in person of the ramifications should illegal activity be detected.”
The dispensary issue will be in front of Sechelt Council on Wednesday, where a local operator is planning to urge them to follow the Vancouver model of licensing and regulation.
