An anti-marijuana group is calling on BC Hydro to turn off the service to any businesses operating storefronts — as dispensaries are considered illegal by federal law.
Pamela McColl, a member of Smart Approaches to Marijuana Canada, said on Sunday she’s written B.C. government and the electricity provider to stop supplying the shops with power, arguing that doing so supports criminal activities.
“We’re asking them to come into compliance with the laws of this country, which is that a company can’t aid or abet or profit from crime,” she said.
“They’re selling drugs illegally and any revenues BC Hydro is taking in is profiting from crime ... we’re going to pull the plug.”
Her group takes issue with Vancouver’s approach to regulate the number of dispensaries in the city by prohibiting those too close to schools, community centres or parks.
Those proposed regulations go to a public hearing on June 10.
“We’re telling everyone not to go, it’s a circus and we’re going to let the pot lobby be the main attraction,” McColl said.
“This should not be a public hearing, this is illegal. It’s a farce for us all to get up there and lobby.”
While her group is young — it was started in the U.S. and the local branch only formed last year — it’s already made some gains in the fight.
Weeks earlier, McColl lobbied the federal government with concerns that some media outlets were advertising medical marijuana — these types of ads are generally prohibited by Health Canada.
She went to multiple bodies, including the Ministry of Justice, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and even the Prime Minister’s Office.
Earlier this month, she got a response back from Advertising Standards Canada, who said Health Canada has now sent a letter out to a local radio station to cease the advertisement.
According to the Canadian Press, CKNW’s DJ Drex directed people to visit a Vancouver marijuana dispensary on May 12.
Pamela McColl, a member of Smart Approaches to Marijuana Canada, said on Sunday she’s written B.C. government and the electricity provider to stop supplying the shops with power, arguing that doing so supports criminal activities.
“We’re asking them to come into compliance with the laws of this country, which is that a company can’t aid or abet or profit from crime,” she said.
“They’re selling drugs illegally and any revenues BC Hydro is taking in is profiting from crime ... we’re going to pull the plug.”
Her group takes issue with Vancouver’s approach to regulate the number of dispensaries in the city by prohibiting those too close to schools, community centres or parks.
Those proposed regulations go to a public hearing on June 10.
“We’re telling everyone not to go, it’s a circus and we’re going to let the pot lobby be the main attraction,” McColl said.
“This should not be a public hearing, this is illegal. It’s a farce for us all to get up there and lobby.”
While her group is young — it was started in the U.S. and the local branch only formed last year — it’s already made some gains in the fight.
Weeks earlier, McColl lobbied the federal government with concerns that some media outlets were advertising medical marijuana — these types of ads are generally prohibited by Health Canada.
She went to multiple bodies, including the Ministry of Justice, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and even the Prime Minister’s Office.
Earlier this month, she got a response back from Advertising Standards Canada, who said Health Canada has now sent a letter out to a local radio station to cease the advertisement.
According to the Canadian Press, CKNW’s DJ Drex directed people to visit a Vancouver marijuana dispensary on May 12.
