The war of words over medical pot dispensaries in Vancouver was further fueled as the federal health minister spoke out on Friday.
Rona Ambrose sent a letter to the city of Vancouver on Thursday, suggesting the city rethink plans to regulate medicinal pot shops around the city.
“As Health Minister of Canada what I have been focused on is the concern around the mass legalization, or in the case of Vancouver, the commercialization of the sale, mass commercialization and sale of marijuana in storefronts in other ways, that send a bad message to young people,” Ambrose said at a press conference in Surrey.
“Our ad campaign has been focused on informing parents about the health impacts of marijuana, and regardless of what happens in the future in Canada, marijuana will always, always be very harmful to the developing brain of young people."
City councillor Kerry Jang said the city is not backing down.
"That's exactly what the city bylaws are designed to prevent, they're actually designed to keep marijuana dispensaries away from schools and community centres and to keep them from clustering around, so clearly Minister Ambrose has missed the point."
In the letter addressed to Mayor Gregor Robertson, Ambrose wrote that she is “deeply concerned” about the upcoming proposal.
“Storefronts and dispensaries do not operate within a 'grey zone,' and the law is clear: they are illegal,” she wrote.
The proposed regulations would include a $30,000 licensing fee and require shops to be a minimum of 300 metres from schools, community centres and other dispensaries.
Jang said Vancouver City Council will still proceed with the vote next Tuesday. The letter from Ambrose does not threaten legal action against Vancouver.
With files from the Canadian Press
