Nanaimo operator accuses shady pot dispensaries of forcing closure deadline

NANAIMO, B.C. – Medical marijuana dispensaries in Nanaimo, B.C., have until the end of the day to decide if they will shut their doors or risk criminal charges.

RCMP in the Vancouver Island city hand-delivered letters on Nov. 12, stating the businesses are illegal and giving operators seven days to close or face arrest.

The manager of Mid-Island Health and Wellness isn’t saying what her dispensary will do, but Brandy Cavanagh is criticizing other operators for causing the problems.

She says when Vancouver created new zoning and business licencing rules to regulate dispensaries, some of the operations forced out of the Lower Mainland moved to Nanaimo.

According to Cavanagh, the newcomers allow smoking on site or offer free marijuana in exchange for cans of food, all illegal practices that she believes have impacted Nanaimo’s legitimate dispensaries.

Cavanagh says Mid-Island Health and Wellness has nearly 1,000 patients and all of them must have a prescription to buy marijuana from her dispensary. (CKWV)