Pubdate: Tue, 08 Dec 2015
Source: Nanaimo News Bulletin (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015, BC Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/948
Author: Alex Robb
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n686/a01.html

DISPENSARY TRIES TO BE A FORCE FOR GOOD

To the Editor,

Re: Pot shops had to be closed, Editorial, Dec. 3.

We categorically reject the editorial's painting of all dispensaries 
with the same brush. Trees Dispensary has worked very hard to be a 
legitimate business that contributes to the local economy and the 
health of the City of Nanaimo. We employ over 40 people at a living 
wage, and offer health and dental benefits. We stand behind our 
employees. We are now paying their legal fees, and we will continue 
to pay their wages even though they are now prohibited from returning 
to work. The "regulation, taxation, and education" the editorial 
speaks of is something that we have been working very hard on for 
over a year. We pay payroll taxes, GST, and income tax. We have an 
account with Canada Revenue Agency and have paid over $200,000 of 
taxes to the federal govenrment since we began operations.

We would now like to see the City of Nanaimo regulate businesses such 
as ours, and I will be presenting to the Nanaimo city council on Dec. 
14 on suggested regulations for dispensaries here. Our growers were 
licensed under the federal Liberal government's 2001 medical 
marijuana authorization regulations, and we regularly have our 
products tested for pesticides, mould and potency. We strictly 
prohibit consumption in or near our storefront, and we can account 
for every product that we sell to every one of our members.

We work very hard to be good neighbours, responsible business owners, 
and a force for good in the community, and we believe that the people 
of Nanaimo support us and want us to continue to work in this community.

Alex Robb community liaison Trees Dispensary
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom