Marijuana compassion club allowed to stay open in Vancouver

VANCOUVER – Vancouver city officials will allow a nearly 20-year-old medical marijuana shop to remain in operation.

In a news release, the BC Compassion Club Society says members of the board of variance voted unanimously to allow the society to stay open at its Commercial Drive location on Vancouver’s east side.

The society was one of 135 medical marijuana dispensaries ordered closed by the city last year.

That order came after new zoning and licensing requirements for pot shops were established, preventing the shops from operating near schools, community centres or other marijuana-related businesses.

City officials ruled the society violated regulations because it was too close to schools.

The Compassion Club appealed the order and the five-member civic panel has ruled the club, which has been operating since May 1997, can continue providing medical cannabis to its 6,000 clients.

“This decision comes as a great relief to our … members who have been waiting, terrified for this day,” says Hilary Black, society founder.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version incorrectly said two schools near the BC Compassion Club supported it remaining in operation. The schools took no position.