In an attempt to be proactive, Dorval city council is in the process of rezoning an industrial area to permit establishments that would provide or sell cannabis for therapeutic reasons.
Dorval Mayor Edgar Rouleau, keeping an eye on what was going on in neighbouring Lachine recently with the police raid on the Culture 420 Compassion Centre, said his council is simply taking precautions to avoid a medical marijuana centre opening too close to residents or retailers.
"We cannot outright forbid that, it's a federal law," the mayor said, alluding to Ottawa legalizing the use and cultivation of marijuana for certain medical conditions in 2001.
"We want to avoid having them open right here on Dorval Avenue and have problems like they had in Lachine. If they want to open here, they will have to find some land there (in the industrial park)."
Last month, council approved a second draft bylaw to rezone the area, near St. Francois Road and Andre Avenue, that would allow for a so-called compassion club to open, but the item could still be subjected to a referendum if enough qualified voters sign a registry at city hall by tomorrow.
The mayor said the city wanted to act before a medical marijuana promoter attempts to establish a centre in his city.
"We need the bylaw in place before," he added.
Oneof theco-foundersof Culture420inLachine is Dorval native Gary Webber, who was a victim of a home invasion in March when two masked men stole a laptop and keys to the centre.
Webber said he commends the City of Dorval for taking action with its rezoning.
"The mayor of Dorval is more understanding of the compassionate needs of people," he said. "They are not just trying to get it out of their city. I congratulate them. Dorval is not sticking their heads into the sand."
In early June, Montreal police cracked down on four compassion clubs and arrested dozens of people, including Webber, who faces drug possession and trafficking charges. Under Canada's medical marijuana rules, only Health Canada is legally entitled to provide the cannabis, though a number of clubs have opened up across the country.
Webber said he not only intends to reopen the two Culture 420 centres which ceased operations after the police raids, he plans to open another 13 in the Greater Montreal area, including the West Island, though he declined to mention exact locations.
"We plan to have 15 locations running by Aug. 1," he added. "It's a service for members, we are not looking to advertise. We try to avoid having a store-front sign."
Webber said the Culture 420 Society, not necessarily through its distribution locales, advocates the legalization of marijuana use in general and promotes using it to prevent illness.
"There are 3 million Canadians who claim to use therapeutic cannabis on a daily basis," he said, adding only 5,000 have registered with Health Canada.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The West Island Gazette
Author: Albert Kramberger
Contact: The West Island Gazette
Copyright: 2010 The West Island Gazette
Website: Dorval sets aside area for pot shops
Dorval Mayor Edgar Rouleau, keeping an eye on what was going on in neighbouring Lachine recently with the police raid on the Culture 420 Compassion Centre, said his council is simply taking precautions to avoid a medical marijuana centre opening too close to residents or retailers.
"We cannot outright forbid that, it's a federal law," the mayor said, alluding to Ottawa legalizing the use and cultivation of marijuana for certain medical conditions in 2001.
"We want to avoid having them open right here on Dorval Avenue and have problems like they had in Lachine. If they want to open here, they will have to find some land there (in the industrial park)."
Last month, council approved a second draft bylaw to rezone the area, near St. Francois Road and Andre Avenue, that would allow for a so-called compassion club to open, but the item could still be subjected to a referendum if enough qualified voters sign a registry at city hall by tomorrow.
The mayor said the city wanted to act before a medical marijuana promoter attempts to establish a centre in his city.
"We need the bylaw in place before," he added.
Oneof theco-foundersof Culture420inLachine is Dorval native Gary Webber, who was a victim of a home invasion in March when two masked men stole a laptop and keys to the centre.
Webber said he commends the City of Dorval for taking action with its rezoning.
"The mayor of Dorval is more understanding of the compassionate needs of people," he said. "They are not just trying to get it out of their city. I congratulate them. Dorval is not sticking their heads into the sand."
In early June, Montreal police cracked down on four compassion clubs and arrested dozens of people, including Webber, who faces drug possession and trafficking charges. Under Canada's medical marijuana rules, only Health Canada is legally entitled to provide the cannabis, though a number of clubs have opened up across the country.
Webber said he not only intends to reopen the two Culture 420 centres which ceased operations after the police raids, he plans to open another 13 in the Greater Montreal area, including the West Island, though he declined to mention exact locations.
"We plan to have 15 locations running by Aug. 1," he added. "It's a service for members, we are not looking to advertise. We try to avoid having a store-front sign."
Webber said the Culture 420 Society, not necessarily through its distribution locales, advocates the legalization of marijuana use in general and promotes using it to prevent illness.
"There are 3 million Canadians who claim to use therapeutic cannabis on a daily basis," he said, adding only 5,000 have registered with Health Canada.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The West Island Gazette
Author: Albert Kramberger
Contact: The West Island Gazette
Copyright: 2010 The West Island Gazette
Website: Dorval sets aside area for pot shops
