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Tucked away in small Maillardville strip mall is the home base for a non-profit society – the first of its kind in the Tri-Cites.
Last week, the first and only medical marijuana dispensary opened its doors in Coquitlam in Village Square.
From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week, the Coquitlam Natural Path Society intends to provide medical cannabis from its storefront operation to people who have a legitimate medical need for the drug.
The society's founder and president Christopher MacLeod said he wanted to open up a dispensary in the Tri-Cities to cut down the travel time for locals who use the dispensaries in Vancouver.
"We want to fulfill a need for the community, and we want to give people good quality medication that they can trust at a safe location," he told The NOW.
The dispensary offers both eatable and traditional forms of marijuana on site.
But Macleod suggested there are strict rules in place to ensure the pot is distributed properly.
He explained that clients before they get their pot must be members of the society, which requires them to have their medical marijuana exemptions from Health Canada or a prescription or proof of a diagnosis from a doctor.
Clients are also expected to sign the society's code of conduct, which implies the user isn't buying the drug for anyone else.
Macleod said he also plans to a have a natural path doctor on site with a doctor's office.
As for the crop, the society gets its product from the excess produced by licensed users who grow their own pot, but under federal rules aren't allowed to keep large amounts.
MacLeod said the product is tested to make sure the bud is safe for use.
Under Health Canada guidelines, pot can be prescribed and used legally to treat a number of illnesses and conditions.
But the path for many dispensaries in the past has been fraught with challenges.
There are reportedly nine dispensaries or "cannabis clubs" in B.C., with the majority located in Vancouver.
Some clubs have sprung up quietly, only to be shut down or raided by local police, such as the case last year at a club in Kamloops.
Since the laws around medical dispensaries are a grey area, MacLeod is worried the RCMP will shut him down, but he said he has the support of his business neighbours and the landlord of the building.
MacLeod also believes he has the unofficial support of some Coquitlam city councillors who he said have given the idea a "warm reception."
The store doesn't have a business license from the City of Coquitlam, but he said the society doesn't need one because it is a non-profit organization.
MacLeod said he has also gone to great lengths to deter any crime related to the dispensary.
The office is armed with video cameras, there are bars on the doors and locks to the back entrance have been upgraded.
He noted a private alarm company also monitors the building.
While Macleod suggested security is always an issue, he contends the dispensary is located in a good community and safe area.
"It's the patients that suffer, if people are buying it [marijuana] off the streets, it's not helping the community at all," he said.
The society has already a few customers drop by, but MacLeod expects business to pick up within the next month as word of the dispensary grows.
The New Westminster resident and telecommunications installer by trade said he's suffered from juvenile arthritis his whole life, and medical pot helped him get through college.
"It allowed me to live the normal life, and I'm just trying to do the same for everyone else," MacLeod said.
The NOW attempted to get a comment from Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart, but had not heard back from the mayor by press deadline.
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: theownews.com
Author: Jeremy Deutsch
Contact: Contact Us - Coquitlam Now
Website: First medical pot dispensary opens in Coquitlam
Last week, the first and only medical marijuana dispensary opened its doors in Coquitlam in Village Square.
From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week, the Coquitlam Natural Path Society intends to provide medical cannabis from its storefront operation to people who have a legitimate medical need for the drug.
The society's founder and president Christopher MacLeod said he wanted to open up a dispensary in the Tri-Cities to cut down the travel time for locals who use the dispensaries in Vancouver.
"We want to fulfill a need for the community, and we want to give people good quality medication that they can trust at a safe location," he told The NOW.
The dispensary offers both eatable and traditional forms of marijuana on site.
But Macleod suggested there are strict rules in place to ensure the pot is distributed properly.
He explained that clients before they get their pot must be members of the society, which requires them to have their medical marijuana exemptions from Health Canada or a prescription or proof of a diagnosis from a doctor.
Clients are also expected to sign the society's code of conduct, which implies the user isn't buying the drug for anyone else.
Macleod said he also plans to a have a natural path doctor on site with a doctor's office.
As for the crop, the society gets its product from the excess produced by licensed users who grow their own pot, but under federal rules aren't allowed to keep large amounts.
MacLeod said the product is tested to make sure the bud is safe for use.
Under Health Canada guidelines, pot can be prescribed and used legally to treat a number of illnesses and conditions.
But the path for many dispensaries in the past has been fraught with challenges.
There are reportedly nine dispensaries or "cannabis clubs" in B.C., with the majority located in Vancouver.
Some clubs have sprung up quietly, only to be shut down or raided by local police, such as the case last year at a club in Kamloops.
Since the laws around medical dispensaries are a grey area, MacLeod is worried the RCMP will shut him down, but he said he has the support of his business neighbours and the landlord of the building.
MacLeod also believes he has the unofficial support of some Coquitlam city councillors who he said have given the idea a "warm reception."
The store doesn't have a business license from the City of Coquitlam, but he said the society doesn't need one because it is a non-profit organization.
MacLeod said he has also gone to great lengths to deter any crime related to the dispensary.
The office is armed with video cameras, there are bars on the doors and locks to the back entrance have been upgraded.
He noted a private alarm company also monitors the building.
While Macleod suggested security is always an issue, he contends the dispensary is located in a good community and safe area.
"It's the patients that suffer, if people are buying it [marijuana] off the streets, it's not helping the community at all," he said.
The society has already a few customers drop by, but MacLeod expects business to pick up within the next month as word of the dispensary grows.
The New Westminster resident and telecommunications installer by trade said he's suffered from juvenile arthritis his whole life, and medical pot helped him get through college.
"It allowed me to live the normal life, and I'm just trying to do the same for everyone else," MacLeod said.
The NOW attempted to get a comment from Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart, but had not heard back from the mayor by press deadline.
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: theownews.com
Author: Jeremy Deutsch
Contact: Contact Us - Coquitlam Now
Website: First medical pot dispensary opens in Coquitlam
