Saskatoon medical marijuana advocate asks city hall for dispensary regulations

The man behind Saskatoon's first medical marijuana dispensary wants city council to get involved in regulating the organizations.

Last month, Vancouver city council voted to regulate the over 100 medical marijuana dispensaries in their city. 

Now, Saskatchewan Compassion Club founder Mark Hauk wants to see the same thing in Saskatoon. He said having rules in place would be in everyone's best interest.

"The concerns are that they're going to be placed next to schools and they're going to be run by organized crime, and those certainly are valid concerns," he said. "Regulating them will prevent that."

Hauk said medical marijuana is expensive and hard to obtain. He said a dispensary would make it easier for patients to receive their marijuana legally. 

Controversial move

Vancouver's move to regulate dispensaries has been controversial.

Federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose opposed the bylaw, sending letters to Vancouver's mayor and city councillors telling them marijuana is illegal and the bylaw will increase marijuana use and addiction.

Saskatoon police have said that marijuana dispensaries are against the law, and charges would be laid if the dispensary opens its doors.

Hauk admits the regulations might be a long shot, but he believes it's worth asking.

"Set boundaries," he said. "Not within 300 metres of schools, we have criminal record checks to ensure that organized crime isn't involved."

Hauk plans on opening up his dispensary in downtown Saskatoon.