The operator of Barrie's first medical pot club and dispensary is urging city council to develop bylaws to regulate the industry before recreational marijuana is legalized by the federal government.
“Every indication is that the federal government will leave it up to the provinces and municipalities to decide on how to implement a distribution regime,” Joseph Bidinot told the corporate services committee on Wednesday.
“In order to ensure the responsible growth of this industry, we suggest the municipality take part in the discussion on how best to control, and manage the growth of dispensaries and clubs.”
Bidinot operates Sunrise Medicinal, a private club and dispensary located on Dunlop Street East. and focused on marijuana for medical purposes.
“We exist to help patients understand the complexities of using medical marijuana,” he said. “That is why our mission is to educate and provide Canadians with reliable information . . . so that they may use marijuana products responsibly in order to assist them with maintaining and improving their health.”
Sunrise membership is growing steadily since the doors opened earlier this year, as “more people seek to understand the health benefits of marijuana.”
Bidinot suggested that Barrie learn from Vancouver and Victoria, where regulating bylaws are already in place “to ensure community interests come first.”
Those bylaws "offer a good mix of recognizing the patients desire for up front, informed access to their medicine while ensuring storefronts do not negatively impact the area where they operate."
While it is clear that the federal government has targeted next spring for legalization across the country, how the new system will work is not defined and Bidinot is encouraging the city of Barrie "take part in the discussion on how best to control and manage the growth of dispensaries and clubs."
“What is not clear is how such a system will affect our communities,” Bidinot said, urging council to “.”
“There will be a need to balance a patient’s medical need versus a consumer’s recreational desire.
"In the absence of any meaningful input from the municipality, it is unclear how the situation will develop in the future."
All Sunrise employees are legally allowed possess marijuana.
Club members must be at least 24 years old and be authorized by a doctor to possess medical marijuana. The average age is 51.
“We sell a service. We sell education. It’s a consultation fee for products that are traded between two licensed care receivers,” Bidinot explained.
“Places like Sunrise exist because we fill a need that patients can’t get anywhere else.”
Mayor Jeff Lehman says the city enforces all existing bylaws, but would not comment when asked if pot dispensaries are legal in the city.
"That's a question for our bylaw department," Lehman said.
The corporate services committee accepted the presentation as information, with no recommendation for action. It will now be available for general committee, if any councilor wishes to continue the discussion.
