Medical cannabis store seeks city support to reopen

May 27, 2019 | 1:06 PM

A Vernon medical cannabis store is hoping it can find a way to reopen to help its patients

Herb’s Healing Centre in the Alpine Centre shut down last week, with owner Russ Stevenson saying he faced a five million dollar fine and prison time if he stayed open.

While patients can get medical pot online, Stevenson says his clients are struggling without access to the high quality cannabis he provided, including a woman with Parkinson’s.

“These patients choose to walk into my store rather than be forced to shop online. I don’t blame them at all,” says Stevenson in an email to Beach Radio News.

“When you order online you get what you get, so to speak. Cannabis should be inspected daily for moisture levels and should never be aged to two years as some of the legal products have been. Max time frame for aging cannabis is six months.”

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Stevenson is hoping the City will come to the table and talk to the patients so they can find a way to open again.

“When we opened we had spent two years with the city and opened with blessings and a business license. At the time when we opened we were very much in the gray zone, not legal, but helping the most vulnerable in the community. The courts have always supported what we do and who we do it for, its time for all levels of government come to the table to look after our medical patients,” adds Stevenson.

Patti Bridal, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer with the City of Vernon, issued this statement in response to our request for comment:

“As per the Media Release sent out May 17 – the City only has jurisdiction over land use and the City can only issue a business licence once the Province has issued a licence.”

“No retail sales of cannabis are permitted without both a license from the Province and a business license from the City,” said the release. “Council has directed that any cannabis retailers operating without the required licenses be closed. The fine for operating a business without a business license is $1,000 per day.”

“Medical cannabis is available with a physician’s prescription by mail order and is regulated by the federal government. You cannot buy prescription cannabis at a retail location,” said the release.

by Corey Fischer