Pot talk by council

The final outcome of Tuesday’s marathon session of Penticton City Council was a decent compromise. Council approved short-term licensing for two Penticton dispensaries, denying five other requests. It’s a temporary six-month license as Penticton — as well as the rest of Canada — waits for direction from the federal government.

In fairness to municipalities like Osoyoos and Penticton, the Liberals have left local governments and RCMP holding the bag. The majority of Canadians are in favour of legalizing marijuana and making it easier for those who require it for medical purposes to obtain it safely and conveniently.

But it stops there. The Liberals don’t appear to have a plan. They don’t have a set of rules. It’s ludicrous to think the administering of cannabis could be in the hands of any Tom, Dick or Harry who applies for a licence rather than qualified pharmacists (you know, the way the pharmaceutical industry works.)

So now the issue is before Penticton city council. All of the council members present made valid points. It was certainly a tough decision.

The two shops that were awarded licences appear to be heads and shoulders above some of the others in quality and professionalism.

We also heard emotional pleas from people who rely on the drug for their well-being. It’s also better for people needing pot to get it from an approved dispensary rather than from the street.

The argument of pot shops creating a seedy environment is more eye of the beholder. Once upon a time, some considered liquor stores to be seedy. Some of the dispensary storefronts in Victoria and Vancouver are quite attractive.

Although council was trying to take a lead by being progressive, the arguments from Couns. Campbell Watt and Helena Konanz were correct.

Marijuana still is — at least for the moment — an illegal substance. There is a compromise in mail orders. There are still so many unanswered questions, council could be setting itself up for possible legal issues or other unexpected problems.

Until such a time the product is deemed legal and the feds put the proper guidelines in place, council should have chosen not to award licenses.

There was some unintended irony on Page 1 of Tuesday’s print edition of The Herald. In between a photo of Cirque Musica was one headline: “Overdose crisis the topic of emergency meeting.” Opposite to it was the headline: “Permits for pot shops would boost city coffers.”

—James Miller

Benefits are great but marijuana is still illegal