COUNCILLOR CONCERN LED TO DISPENSARY RAID

The police raid that closed the Langley Medical Marijuana Dispensary
came after Langley City Councillor Rudy Storteboom complained to
Mayor Peter Fassbender.

Both men confirmed there was a discussion in which the councillor
brought up the dispensary, which is located in a condo unit next to a
suite that Storteboom owns and leases to a hairdresser.

He [Storteboom] indicated there was some concern," Fassbender said.

There was a break-in [at the dispensary] right after it opened,"
Storteboom said.

The mayor said he told the councillor that if the strata council that
represents the owners believed illegal activities were being carried
out, they should go to the police.

Storteboom told The Times that he relayed the mayor's message to the
strata council.

Langley RCMP raided the dispensary on July 19, saying it was in
response to "numerous ongoing complaints from the community and area
residents."

The mayor also attended the annual general meeting of the building
owners on Wednesday (July 27).

Fassbender said he was invited by the building manager and strata
president (not Storteboom) to explain the city's position.

Marijuana dispensaries or compassion clubs are not legal operations
under any Canadian law," Fassbender said.

He advised the owners they could send a cease-and-desist order to
dispensary owner Randy Caine.

Caine also attended the meeting.

He [Fassbender] told them they could kick me out," Caine said.

This is ludicrous. This is a matter that hasn't been decided by the
Crown [the prosecutor's office which decides whether to lay charges
following a police raid]."

Caine said he has no plans to resume selling marijuana from the condo.

Both Fassbender and Storteboom said Ottawa needs to reform the
current medical marijuana system by distributing medical pot through
pharmacies like any other doctor-prescribed drug.

I don't understand why this place [the dispensary] is operating at
all," Storteboom said.