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WeeMedical Society defends marijuana sales

In light of two recent arrests involving what Prince George RCMP are referring to as an "illegal storefront business," members of a provincial marijuana advocacy group are not about to give up.
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In light of two recent arrests involving what Prince George RCMP are referring to as an "illegal storefront business," members of a provincial marijuana advocacy group are not about to give up.

"Prince George has a fair population and lots of people who do physical work and require pain relief," said MayJoan Liu, director of the WeeMedical Society.

"We are all people. Everyone has aches and pains. Why should someone have to travel all the way to Vancouver to find pain relief?"

WeeMedical opened a "wellness centre" on the 1400 block of Third Avenue in February.

"We are not a dispensary," Liu said.

"We do not sell marijuana to people who are not registered with Heath Canada. For those who are, yes we accommodate them but the wellness centre is all about our other natural remedies and products such as CBD oil (cannabidiol oil) which is used for pain relief. It's not on the list of controlled substances yet, so the police took all of those products out of the centre."

Last Friday, the RCMP's Downtown Safety Unit executed a Controlled Drugs and Substance Act search warrant at WeeMedical.

Two males, aged 32 and 34, were arrested after police seized marijuana along with cannibas-infused food and cash.

"Police seized less than 100 grams of marijuana. That's all there was, less than a quarter pound. If we were a dispensary, would we not have more than that?" Liu said.

"That's why we are not a dispensary where people can come in, make a selection and then make a purchase. We serve those who are registered, those in need of pain relief, that's why there wasn't much found by the police."

WeeMedical was also closed three days after opening in February when RCMP and city officials found it was operating without a business licence and had marijuana on the premises.

Despite a shaky start, WeeMedical continued on as a wellness centre.

"We've made various attempts with the City of Prince George but they just disregard us," Liu said. "This recent incident was right in the middle of us making an attempt to gain a wellness licence. Our landlord is happy we are here. We've never had issues with our neighbours. But the city disregards us completely."

Mayor Lyn Hall and RCMP have said marijuana retailers will be treated as illegal businesses until new federal laws come into place, scheduled for next summer.

Within the last few years, however, the number of dispensaries in the province has been on the rise, not just in Vancouver but also in Nanaimo, where WeeMedical operates two dispensaries.

In Prince George, the complaint leading to both arrests was filed by a disgruntled past employee, according to Liu.

The two males arrested inside the business were released on promises to appear on Oct. 11.

"The two arrested are being treated like criminals right now. And we are being criminalized unnecessarily," Liu said.

"When we set up, we always set up to stay. We would really love to continue to work with the community of Prince George."

WeeMedical has other locations - both dispensaries and wellness centres - throughout B.C. including Kelowna, North Vancouver and Port Alberni.