By Tom Mark

Update: Vernon Cannabis Shop Closes, But Vows Fight

Jun 15, 2018 | 5:13 PM

Update 5:10 pm:

A Vernon cannabis shop has decided to stop sales to avoid hefty fines by the city.

The city has said it plans to fine three shops and one online seller $1,000 a day, if they stay in business without having signed a covenant that would allow them to get a temporary business permit.

Haisa Glaim of MMJ Total Health Care says they will close their doors Friday night.

“We’re still in talks with our lawyers and the City to see how to move forward at that location and be available for our patients.”

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The store is looking at legal action against the city, feeling the covenant gives the city too much power over the businesses.

The city says it will say more about what action it will take next week.

Glaim says a peaceful protest will still go ahead from their store on 31st Street to city hall on Monday.

Thirteen cannabis retailers have complied with the city’s rules, meaning they can keep operating using temporary business permits.

A Vernon cannabis shop is going down to the wire to decide if it’s going to stop sales today in the face of threats of fines by the city.

The city has said it plans to fine three shops and one online seller if they stay in business without having signed a covenant that would allow them to stay open.

The stores have been told to close at the end of today to avoid fines.

Haisa Glaim of MMJ Total Health Care says they’re trying to see how far the city is willing to go.

“We’re trying to figure out, how much, if we were to stay open what the fines are going to occur to and where we would see ourselves going to take this to court and how many days of fines is the city willing to issue us.”

Glaim says the store’s lawyers feel they could win in court in a constitutional fight.

She says what the city is doing is discrimination.

” I feel like we’re in a dance with the city and their long-term goal with this covenant. However, it’s really negatively impacting a bunch of sick people, truly sick people in the community.”

She says the store has been deluged with calls from panicked clients wondering what to do.

Glaim says if they do stop sales, the store will stay open for a short while for consultations.

She says the store didn’t sign the covenant because its landlord wanted a 25 thousand dollar non-refundable deposit to agree to buy the building.

A peaceful protest is planned for Monday with a March from the store on 31st street to city hall.

by Tom Mark