The City of West Kelowna is attempting to have all six marijuana dispensaries operating within the city closed

Just days after cancelling the business license for marijuana dispensaries Black Crow Herbal Solutions and The Healing Club, West Kelowna is moving against four other operations in the city, all of them operating a non-profit business model that doesnsa国际传媒檛 need a business licence.

Kirsten Jones, spokeswoman for the city, said a letter is being sent to all six dispensaries informing them they are operating illegally, contrary to city bylaws, and must close.

But itsa国际传媒檚 unclear if the city and a related RCMP investigation will have its effect.

When contacted after his business licence was pulled at West Kelowna council, a Black Crow Herbal director . For how long is the question.

Related: New UBCO study recommends allowing illegal shops to stay open

sa国际传媒淎t this point, we are considering our next step,sa国际传媒� said Jones, adding the city does have the ability to ticket companies that defy city rules.

And while West Kelowna ponders its next move, some customers of the operations are asking how they will access medicinal marijuana if the shops close.

sa国际传媒淚 rely on The Healing Company for CBD which helps the inflammation in my back from debilitating degenerative disc disease,sa国际传媒� wrote Marilyn Stante on the Capital News Facebook page. sa国际传媒淚 have a prescription from my doctor who believes this helps and so do I. Itsa国际传媒檚 either that or opioids. This is extremely disturbing for me and I know of many others in the same situation. Those of you who voted for this will not have my vote and I will encourage others to do the same.sa国际传媒�

Leslie Flammand, a cancer survivor, who suffers a number of other illnesses including PTSD, left the West Kelowna council meeting earlier this week in tears.

sa国际传媒淚 donsa国际传媒檛 know what Isa国际传媒檓 going to do,sa国际传媒� she said wiping away tears as they rolled down her cheeks.

Robert Jaenicke, a director of Black Crow Herbalsa国际传媒攓uestioned the timing of the move.

sa国际传媒淲hy now? Why after all this time? he asked the Vernon Morning Star in an interview. sa国际传媒淚t doesnsa国际传媒檛 make any sense to me because Isa国际传媒檝e been operating now for three years. Isa国际传媒檓 just not sure what their rush is now?sa国际传媒�

In voting to cancel the licences, West Kelowna councillors stated selling or marijuana was still illegal.

Coun. Rusty Ensign said he didnsa国际传媒檛 like having to vote to cancel the business licences but said he had no choice because of the illegality of the sales. Coun. Rick DeJong said he voted to cancel because of both the illegality and because of concerns about the lack of a regulatory program to ensure the quality of the cannabis being sold.

With the federal government moving to marijuana legalization next year it will be up to the provincial government to announce a plan to distribute the product. However there has been no government announcement yet.

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kparnell@kelownacapnews.com
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