Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
The city is firing up ideas to roll with budding medical marijuana counselling business in Calgary.
New land use bylaw amendments early this fall will address the expected growth of such facilities in the area as they sit in a grey area for city planners.
The proposal looks to change how medical marijuana counselling businesses are managed, regulated and classified by the city, according to Laurie Kimber, a City of Calgary planner who’s been engaging all stakeholders that are part of the classification change.
Currently, medical marijuana counselling services are classified as “medical clinics.” But that classification doesn’t fit the city’s definition — medical doctors don’t council patients on the use of the substance nor the types that are available to them, said Jennifer Green, a city spokesperson, in an email.
“We don’t have any other (businesses) where people get advice from a non-medical professional on the use of a drug,” Green said.
Kimber said he expects the number of these businesses to grow “substantially,” especially if the Supreme Court refuses a challenge to keep the old personal growing system in place.
Calgary’s two medical marijuana counselling clinics have grown considerably and expect to see their number of patients rise.
In fact, the 420 clinic now has 200 patients since opening four months ago with a starting clientele of 30, according to clinic owner Jeff Mooij.
“It’s growing fairly rapidly,” he said. “People have more knowledge, and more doctors are understanding what we do, so we’re getting more patients sent to us from doctors.”
Miles Nakaska, a medical technician at Calgary’s Medical Cannabis Health Institute — an affiliate of the Oasis Medical Centre — said the centre has about 1,800 patients and sees five to 10 new applications per day.
“We’re growing almost exponentially,” he said.
Mooij — who’s been in talks with city over the new classification rules — said he’d like to see the clinic classified as retail, somewhat like how pharmacies operate.
He emphasized the clinic is not a dispensary. Rather, it gets approval from doctors who sign a “medical document” to authorize its use for their clients, who then receive their medical pot in the mail from licensed producers. The cannabis institute operates the same.
“I think it’s naturally going to grow, and (the city) is aware of that,” he said. “So, I think it’s something they don’t want to get out of control.”
Green said medical marijuana counselling services could negatively impact the communities in which they operate through their marketing techniques, particularly their use of the marijuana leaf as an image.
“It can lead to perceptions, even if untrue, that a community is not a desirable place to visit,” she said.
Mooij said he hopes new medical marijuana counselling business don’t get zoned into industrial areas — many patients require transit to easily access his location.
Kimber couldn't offer any details in the proposal, as the city has just started to craft it.
He said council will make the final decisions, once it receives the report on Oct. 5.
Calgary Won't End Up Like Vancouver: City
Vancouver Coun. Kerry Jang estimated this week that only 15 to 20 dispensaries will be approved after the city processes a whopping 176 applications for business licences.
Laurie Kimber with the City of Calgary’s planning department said Calgary won’t end up like its western neighbour, as medical marijuana dispensaries are still considered illegal.
“I don’t see how (the opening of medical marijuana dispensaries) would be an option for Calgary.”
Vancouver approved a two-tier licensing system in June to stop the numerous illegal dispensaries sprouting across the city, defying warnings from the federal government by becoming Canada’s first city to regulate storefront pot sales.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Calgary dealing with medical marijuana growth
Author: Jeremy Simes
Contact: Contact Page
Photo Credit: Jeremy Simes/Metro
Website: Metro News
New land use bylaw amendments early this fall will address the expected growth of such facilities in the area as they sit in a grey area for city planners.
The proposal looks to change how medical marijuana counselling businesses are managed, regulated and classified by the city, according to Laurie Kimber, a City of Calgary planner who’s been engaging all stakeholders that are part of the classification change.
Currently, medical marijuana counselling services are classified as “medical clinics.” But that classification doesn’t fit the city’s definition — medical doctors don’t council patients on the use of the substance nor the types that are available to them, said Jennifer Green, a city spokesperson, in an email.
“We don’t have any other (businesses) where people get advice from a non-medical professional on the use of a drug,” Green said.
Kimber said he expects the number of these businesses to grow “substantially,” especially if the Supreme Court refuses a challenge to keep the old personal growing system in place.
Calgary’s two medical marijuana counselling clinics have grown considerably and expect to see their number of patients rise.
In fact, the 420 clinic now has 200 patients since opening four months ago with a starting clientele of 30, according to clinic owner Jeff Mooij.
“It’s growing fairly rapidly,” he said. “People have more knowledge, and more doctors are understanding what we do, so we’re getting more patients sent to us from doctors.”
Miles Nakaska, a medical technician at Calgary’s Medical Cannabis Health Institute — an affiliate of the Oasis Medical Centre — said the centre has about 1,800 patients and sees five to 10 new applications per day.
“We’re growing almost exponentially,” he said.
Mooij — who’s been in talks with city over the new classification rules — said he’d like to see the clinic classified as retail, somewhat like how pharmacies operate.
He emphasized the clinic is not a dispensary. Rather, it gets approval from doctors who sign a “medical document” to authorize its use for their clients, who then receive their medical pot in the mail from licensed producers. The cannabis institute operates the same.
“I think it’s naturally going to grow, and (the city) is aware of that,” he said. “So, I think it’s something they don’t want to get out of control.”
Green said medical marijuana counselling services could negatively impact the communities in which they operate through their marketing techniques, particularly their use of the marijuana leaf as an image.
“It can lead to perceptions, even if untrue, that a community is not a desirable place to visit,” she said.
Mooij said he hopes new medical marijuana counselling business don’t get zoned into industrial areas — many patients require transit to easily access his location.
Kimber couldn't offer any details in the proposal, as the city has just started to craft it.
He said council will make the final decisions, once it receives the report on Oct. 5.
Calgary Won't End Up Like Vancouver: City
Vancouver Coun. Kerry Jang estimated this week that only 15 to 20 dispensaries will be approved after the city processes a whopping 176 applications for business licences.
Laurie Kimber with the City of Calgary’s planning department said Calgary won’t end up like its western neighbour, as medical marijuana dispensaries are still considered illegal.
“I don’t see how (the opening of medical marijuana dispensaries) would be an option for Calgary.”
Vancouver approved a two-tier licensing system in June to stop the numerous illegal dispensaries sprouting across the city, defying warnings from the federal government by becoming Canada’s first city to regulate storefront pot sales.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Calgary dealing with medical marijuana growth
Author: Jeremy Simes
Contact: Contact Page
Photo Credit: Jeremy Simes/Metro
Website: Metro News
