For some Qualicum Beach residents, medical marijuana is part of their everyday lives. But they will still have to go out of town for remedies for their ailments.
At Monday’s (Oct. 2) regular council meeting a motion to issue a temporary-use permit for a medical marijuana dispensary on Fir Street failed. Only councillors Bill Luchtmeijer and Neil Horner voted in favour of issuing the temporary-use permit.
While discussing the permit later in the meeting, Luchtmeijer said Qualicum Beach is probably a very appropriate place for a medical marijuana dispensary.
“I think the way to address the pains of aging right now is an opioid which diminishes mental health function,” Luchtmeijer said. “It’s debilitating. It’s very addictive and this (medicinal cannabis) offers an opportunity. I know from experience within my immediate family, that opportunity is a blessing.”
Coun. Barry Avis said that while there is no question medicinal marijuana is beneficial to a lot of people, he wondered if there was anything illegal with issuing a business licence or if the RCMP would be able to come in and close the dispensary the following day.
Town CAO Daniel Sailland said while there is nothing illegal with issuing a business licence, he said if the RCMP had cause for a search warrant they would put an application in through the court system.
“The courts are also cognizant that on July 1 next year, we’re supposed to see legalization of this process,” said Sailland, adding the courts may not issue warrants if they feel it would come to court after July 1, 2018.
Mayor Teunis Westbroek said he didn’t find it easy to be opposed to the temporary-use permit.
“It’s still technically illegal… and to say, ‘It’s contrary to federal law, but we’re going to do it anyway,’ as a representative of a government body, I don’t think I can do this,” Westbroek said.
Westbroek said he can sympathize with people who want and can use a local medical marijuana dispensary, but he said he has to uphold the law.
At the beginning of the meeting was a public input period and two women who got up to speak were medical marijuana users. They both said having a local dispensary would help medical marijuana users to shop locally since they said most people that need to go out of town for their marijuana will take advantage of the shopping in that area.
Anita Roy, a Nanoose Bay resident who owns a medical cannabis dispensary in Errington, said she’s noticed a positive impact on surrounding businesses.
“There are no kids hanging around, there is no crime,” Roy said. “It’s a bunch of old people, frankly, walking in to get a substitute for their opioid prescriptions that they’re not happy with.”
Roy said there are some negative perceptions with dispensaries.
“All day long, I deal with people my own age, and your age, who come in for pain, insomnia, depression, anxiety, pain again, and then pain and pain again, cancer… A host of problems that can be and are successfully addressed with cannabis. So there’s nothing to be afraid of,” Roy said.