BYLAWS SAYS NO BONG SHOP

The Hemporium is up in smoke - not literally, but figuratively.

After opening briefly on 224th Street in downtown Maple Ridge last
week, the shop will stay darkened because the District of Maple Ridge
has refused to issue it a business licence.

"I refused it yesterday because, first of all, it is a Criminal Code
offence to offer for sale anything designated for consuming an illicit
drug," said bylaws director Brock MacDonald.

When he visited the store, the only items he saw for sale were bongs
or marijuana pipes and hookah pipes.

McDonald said he mailed store owner Dave Singh on Monday, telling him
of his decision. The rejection was given under Maple Ridge's Business
Licensing and Regulation Bylaw from 2005, and it was McDonald's
decision to make as licence inspector, rather than based on direction
from council.

Asked why other shops that also sell marijuana-smoking equipment
weren't refused business licences, McDonald said he didn't know of
any. Other stores that have drug paraphernalia are asked to remove
them, he said.

Singh plans on challenging the decision and has already asked for a
meeting with council. If he's still refused, he'll consider legal action.

"I don't believe what we're selling is illegal. I don't know why
they're pushing me to try to close down the store. There's a bunch of
stores in Maple Ridge that are selling the same product."

Singh said the hookah pipes are for smoking flavoured tobacco and he
can't stop people from using other drugs in them.

He said McDonald told him he'd have more success on 207th Street, but
McDonald didn't recall telling him that. In any event, after seeing
what the store was selling and getting legal advice, the store
wouldn't be allowed anywhere in Maple Ridge, McDonald said.

The decision has Coun. Craig Speirs's support, providing it's done on
solid legal grounds. "We've got to be sensitive to the attitude of the
merchants downtown.

"As long as we're legally able to limit the access to a business
licence, I'm all for it."

Still, while on a recent visit to Quebec City, Speirs saw two or three
such shops in the high-end tourist area.

Across Dewdney Trunk Road, at Blenz Coffee, owner Darla Hrankowski
didn't like the idea of a bong shop opening and said Singh should have
got a business permit before opening his store. Usually, unless the
bylaws department allows otherwise, businesses must first get a
licence before opening.

Hrankowski had signed a petition opposing such a shop. It had
accumulated three pages of signatures. That petition was on display in
her restaurant, but was stolen from the shop over the weekend.

Singh also presented the bylaws department with a petition with about
100 names supporting the store.

Eric Shenker at Dreamscapes Gift Gallery, next door to the proposed
bong shop, was glad to hear the district's decision. "I'm thrilled and
I'm sure most Maple Ridge . and the rest of the town is thrilled."

Shenker started the petition opposing the store. He'll restart the
petition if Singh succeeds in persuading council to allow the shop.