Shut down marijuana shops, health minister appeals to Vancouver

Federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose has reiterated her concern over the City of Vancouver's proposal to regulate retail marijuana stores, calling on the mayor to instead close the operators down.

"Storefront dispensaries are not part of the Health Canada regime in any way," Ambrose said Friday. "What they are is commercial entities selling pot on street corners.

"My appeal to the mayor is to think twice about this, and to vote against his proposal on Tuesday, and instead to close down these dispensaries."

Ambrose said her concern was based on research into the effects of marijuana on developing brains, which she said made an "irrefutable" link between usage in young people and serious effects such as psychosis and schizophrenia.

"Don't do it. Don't pass the resolution," she urged council.

'Missing the point'

In a letter to Mayor Gregor Robertson Thursday, Ambrose wrote that "legitimizing and normalizing the use and sale of marijuana can have only one effect: increasing marijuana use and addiction."

There are currently 80 medical marijuana stores operating in the City of Vancouver. (CBC)

The federal regulations surrounding access to medical marijuana when prescribed by a physician are clear, the letter states, "and do not provide municipalities with the authority to legitimize the commercial sale of marijuana, which remains an illegal substance."

"Storefronts and dispensaries do not operate within a 'grey zone,' and the law is clear: they are illegal."

Vancouver Coun. Kerry Jang said Thursday that Ambrose is missing the point.

"You know, she raises the issue about the impact of marijuana on youth, but that's exactly what the city bylaws are designed to prevent," he said.

"They're actually designed to keep marijuana dispensaries away from schools and community centres, and to keep them from clustering around."

Note: CBC created this map after pulling together a list of marijuana-related businesses from various sources, including Leafly and the businesses' own websites. The City of Vancouver declined to provide CBC with the full list.