DISCUSSIONS NEEDED ON NEW POT SHOP

The opening of the Always Growing Green Society Dispensary on 224
Street is perhaps a lesson in how not to open a controversial project
in a community.

The folks behind this society, which started selling medical
marijuana this week, issued a press release just before opening.

This meant media outlets were calling for reaction from local
politicians and the police, who hadn't heard of the project in their
own community.

Mayor Ernie Daykin and the police likely felt blindsided by the
issue, which the society members had to know would be controversial.
Others, including those members of a coalition trying to clean up
this area of town, complained about a lack of public consultation.

A little heads up to all those concerned would have helped ease tensions.

Having said all this, those expressing concerns should relax a
little. This isn't a porn shop or a safe injection site being set up.

It's a society selling medical marijuana to people who have received
a federal licence. They are people in serious pain who have received
permission to smoke pot to ease that pain and make life more livable.
They are not drug addicts breaking into cars and homes to feed their habit.

The organizers of the society should consider hosting some meetings
to explain more about how they are going to address public concerns.
People want to know how all this works and that it's not going to
cause problems.

Communication can't be a bad thing.