Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
A grey area just got a little wider in Ottawa.
A new medical marijuana dispensary is set to open in Stittsville in the city's west end — the first such business to open up in the suburbs.
The local City Councillor is not impressed. "I would encourage the police to close it down," says Shad Qadri.
For his part, the owner of Magna Terra has tried to make the clinic as non-threatening as possible. It's actually set up in a light industrial area on Iber Road, apart from any residential development and over a kilometre away from the nearest school. The door is locked so that you need to be buzzed in, and you need a doctor's prescription to actually buy any marijuana. "If there was any case where someone without a prescription, whether it be a youth or an adult, that were to come by they wouldn't have any access to the clinic," says Franco Vigile, President of Magna Terra.
Vigile already runs a second clinic on Carling Avenue in Ottawa. He says there have been no complaints from the neighbours there.
But the fact remains that Magna Terra, like other dispensaries in the city, is unregulated, unlicensed, and illegal. Shad Qadri says that is a major concern, despite the Federal Government's promise to legalize marijuana. "At some point these businesses would have to apply for permits and get licenses," he says.
No problem, according to Vigile, if such a license existed. "I do need to get a license, And I'm more than willing to conform to any regulatory framework that the city or the government puts into place," he says.
Right now, Health Canada is only licensing select growers to sell medical marijuana by mail order. But for many users, that's a system that just doesn't work. Margaret Hofsink says the right blend of pot does wonders for her multiple sclerosis symptoms but she wasn't happy with what she was receiving in the mail. She says face-to-face consultations can make a big difference. "Places like these are very helpful to those of us with medication," she says.
"The fact remains that there's a large public demand for this type of medicine right now," adds Vigile. "And there's a huge void in the current system."
It's a void that entrepreneurs like Vigile are happy to fill, unlicensed if necessary. For now the Federal Government is letting municipalities decide whether to regulate the clinics or shut them down. Despite Shad Qadri's concerns, the City of Ottawa has yet to do either.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Ottawa Councillor At Odds With A New Marijuana Clinic In His Suburban Ward
Author: Staff
Contact: CTV Ottawa News
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: CTV Ottawa News
A new medical marijuana dispensary is set to open in Stittsville in the city's west end — the first such business to open up in the suburbs.
The local City Councillor is not impressed. "I would encourage the police to close it down," says Shad Qadri.
For his part, the owner of Magna Terra has tried to make the clinic as non-threatening as possible. It's actually set up in a light industrial area on Iber Road, apart from any residential development and over a kilometre away from the nearest school. The door is locked so that you need to be buzzed in, and you need a doctor's prescription to actually buy any marijuana. "If there was any case where someone without a prescription, whether it be a youth or an adult, that were to come by they wouldn't have any access to the clinic," says Franco Vigile, President of Magna Terra.
Vigile already runs a second clinic on Carling Avenue in Ottawa. He says there have been no complaints from the neighbours there.
But the fact remains that Magna Terra, like other dispensaries in the city, is unregulated, unlicensed, and illegal. Shad Qadri says that is a major concern, despite the Federal Government's promise to legalize marijuana. "At some point these businesses would have to apply for permits and get licenses," he says.
No problem, according to Vigile, if such a license existed. "I do need to get a license, And I'm more than willing to conform to any regulatory framework that the city or the government puts into place," he says.
Right now, Health Canada is only licensing select growers to sell medical marijuana by mail order. But for many users, that's a system that just doesn't work. Margaret Hofsink says the right blend of pot does wonders for her multiple sclerosis symptoms but she wasn't happy with what she was receiving in the mail. She says face-to-face consultations can make a big difference. "Places like these are very helpful to those of us with medication," she says.
"The fact remains that there's a large public demand for this type of medicine right now," adds Vigile. "And there's a huge void in the current system."
It's a void that entrepreneurs like Vigile are happy to fill, unlicensed if necessary. For now the Federal Government is letting municipalities decide whether to regulate the clinics or shut them down. Despite Shad Qadri's concerns, the City of Ottawa has yet to do either.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Ottawa Councillor At Odds With A New Marijuana Clinic In His Suburban Ward
Author: Staff
Contact: CTV Ottawa News
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: CTV Ottawa News
