New laws or not, pot shop enforcement not a priority: Vancouver cops to feds

VANCOUVER – Vancouver police have sent a message to the federal government about its new medicinal marijuana laws — they don’t consider enforcement a priority now, and they won’t when the new rules come into effect next month.

The department has taken a mostly hands-off approach to the many medical pot shops in the West Coast city.

Instead, police say violent drug traffickers and gang members who pose a danger to the community are their priority — criteria the medical marijuana dispensaries don’t fit.

Police Chief Jim Chu says Vancouver is not a wide open city for the marijuana trade but police suggested they do not take action unless there is a threat to public safety.

Police say the dispensaries are illegal under the current laws and they’ll be illegal under the revised laws as of April 1.

Under the old rules, a person with a marijuana prescription could grow their own pot, designate another grower or buy it from Health Canada, but as of April 1, they will have to buy from an approved grower.