Stirling-Rawdon Police Chief Dario Cecchin.(Photo/Quinte News).
There is interest in opening a medical marijuana dispensary, otherwise known as a “compassion club” in urban
Stirling-Rawdon.
People have approached Stirling-Rawdon’s Police Chief Dario Cecchin for his opinion on such a store, many of which already exist in Canada, including on the Tyendinaga Territory.
The plan involves leasing space in a commercial building at 400 West Front Street in the village for a dispensary which would only sell to licensed medical marijuana users who’ve been prescribed the drug by a physician.
Tuesday, at a meeting of Stirling-Rawdon council’s Protection to Persons and Property Committee, Chief Cecchin said medical marijuana dispensaries are, in fact, not legal.
Chief Cecchin added that because the Federal government has indicated it will legalize the use of marijuana, many “compassion clubs” are operating, but reiterated that they are not legal and not sanctioned by Health Canada. The Chief said his police officers would have to respond if there were complaints about such a business.
The committee wasted no time following the advice of Interim CAO Roxanne Hearns who said it should follow the lead of Belleville and Quinte West councils and not approve such an operation until the Federal government passes clear legislation regarding the legalization of marijuana.
It’s expected the government will pass regulations sometime next year.
The same people had applied to open a dispensary in Belleville recently.
Meanwhile, other people are proposing leasing other space in the same building for a medical marijuana production facility.
Chief Cecchin says such a business is legal and governed through Health Canada.
A medical marijuana production facility is essentially a very small “grow” operation.
Such businesses are allowed to grow medical marijuana for up to 4 licensed users.
Stirling-Rawdon’s committee had no comment on the production facility.
