Send this page to someone via email

A lawsuit filed in small claims court has a small business owner fighting mad.

Sensei Amber Murphy runs The Purple Dragon Academy, a martial arts dojo on Vancouver’s west side; but recently, a new landlord purchased the commercial space next door and rented it out to a marijuana dispensary.

For a year-and-a-half the owner, John Hurd, and the tenant – Canna Farmacy – have complained about the noise coming from the dojo.

Murphy, trying to be a good neighbour, hired an acoustic engineer and installed soundproofing on the adjoining wall.

Her efforts amounted to nothing.

Now the owner has filed in small claims court citing damages of more than $7,000. The claim cites the noise as a nuisance, violates the strata noise bylaws and is detrimental to his business.

Story continues below advertisement

But Murphy says the pot shop is the real nuisance. She says the smell of marijuana is wafting through the walls, and out onto the street.

“One of our teens went home smelling of marijuana,” says Murphy. “Her parents were questioning where she had been.”

Now her business is being affected; according to Murphy, parents are reluctant to let their kids attend the dojo.

But it’s not just the karate school complaining of the new tenants.

Next door on the east side of the dispensary sits Mido Framers, and the smell permeates their back hallway too.

Mido Framers employee Malcolm Cant says, “The only nuisance in this building comes from Canna Farmacy and yet we don’t complain.”

Canna Farmacy is operating without a valid business licence and neighbors are asking whether Hurd has taken this issue too far.

Global News tried to contact Hurd but a woman who answered the door said he wasn’t interested in speaking to reporters, but did say there is more than one side to the story and people couldn’t imagine the financial losses they have incurred.

Sensei Amber Murphy plans to keep fighting in court. According to her this isn’t about the money, “It’s about the principle.”

Story continues below advertisement

Read both Murphy’s and Hurd’s court files below.

Original claim by John Hurd:

Murphy’s counterclaim: