Editor's Note: The United States is not alone in its struggle between state and local legalities vs. what is federally illegal, and with developing regulations around legalized marijuana. And, as can be seen in Vancouver, some regulations surrounding marijuana markets are a good thing, especially when it comes to clearly defined rules for childproof (and non-appealing) packaging and zoning regulations (similar to those for liquor stores … or pharmacies) for marijuana dispensaries.Â
VANCOUVER — There are many neighbourhoods in Vancouver where you can’t drive down the street without seeing medical marijuana dispensaries.
There are 60 of them in the city of Vancouver alone. However, under federal laws, dispensaries are illegal.
When Canada’s marijuana laws changed last year, the dispensaries remained illegal.
“We moved to a system whereby medical marijuana, the growing of marijuana for medical purposes, would be taken out of neighbourhoods,” said Parliamentary Secretary Paul Calandra on Global News BC1.
