Vancouver files injunctions to shut down unlicensed pot shops
In October the City gave 140 marijuana dispensaries a deadline of April 29 to relocate or close
The City of Vancouver has announced it's filing injunctions in B.C. Supreme Court to close 17 of 55 unlicensed marijuana dispensaries.
The city says it has specifically targeted these 17 pot shops because of their proximity to other shops, their response to enforcement action and community feedback. Chief licensing inspector Andreea Toma says the city will also be seeking injunctions for the remaining 38 stores.
"We're not going to stop, we're going to continue ... to gather information that we need and we'll continue to file injunctions as well," Toma said.
In June 2015, Vancouver city council voted to regulate and license medical marijuana retailers, making it the first city in Canada to do so. But only six per cent of those that applied were successful.
Injunctions have been submitted for the following shops:
- The Healing Tree: 8180 Champlain Crescent.
- Cannabis Culture / The Healing Tree: 512 Beatty Street.
- Divine Ventures: 8640 Granville Street.
- Weeds Glass & Gifts: 1232 Burrard Street, 1108 Richards Street, 104 – 1807 Burrard Street, 405 Skeena Street, 6657 Main Street, and 2580 Kingsway.
- Vancity Medicinals: 1299 Kingsway
- Imedikate: 6128 Fraser Street
- Green Cross Society B.C.: 2145 Kingsway
- Lotusland Cannabis Club: 3474 W. Broadway
- Health Lifestyle Dispensary: 1092 Kingsway
- Sea to Sky Dispensary & Lounge: 100 – 68 E. Second Avenue
- BC Pain Society: 2908 Commercial Drive
- Buddha's Sister – House of Cannabis: 2918 W. Fourth Avenue
Source: City of Vancouver
View a map of the 17 dispensaries with injunctions against them.
Only one licence issued
The city says 31 pot shops have complied with a recent deadline for their closure following the denial of their licence application.
Only one business has been issued a licence, the third and final stage in the approval process.
The development permit is the second stage in the licence approval process — the city says it has issued 10 development permits, and another 11 are under review.
View a map of the 21 pot shops issued a development permit or business licence.
The city says it has been fining non-compliant shops by issuing $250 tickets. So far, it has issued 224 fines.