Fine against Penticton marijuana dispensary largest in B.C.

PENTICTON – A Penticton pot shop has been slapped with the city says is the largest fine ever in B.C.

The City of Penticton obtained a court injunction against marijuana dispensary operator Jukka Laurio in Kelowna’s B.C. Supreme Court yesterday, May 8. The city began legal action against the dispensary over a year ago.

The city says in a media release the $15,000 fine handed to Laurio is the largest levied against a marijuana dispensary owner or operator in the province.

The judge approved a consent order prohibiting the sale, use, storage or possession of marijuana at Herbal Green Cafe, also known as the Russian and Finish Cafe, on Westminster Avenue. Laurio has also been ordered to comply with five city bylaws and two provincial statutes in addition to withdrawing his court proceedings against the city.

The $15,000 fine must be paid by Nov.15 or it will more than double to $30,500.

“Council instructed bylaw services to treat all dispensaries equally under the law and we have been able to do so with three court orders on three dispensaries. Herbal Green was more punitive because there were two outstanding legal actions filed in the Penticton and Kelowna registries,” city bylaw supervisor Tina Siebert says in the release.

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