The City of Vancouver is holding private information sessions for current and potential pot shop operators to “learn how to make a successful medical marijuana business licence application” as it embarks on its plan to become Canada’s first city to regulate the illegal dispensaries.

The city is advertising the sessions on its website, saying “staff will explain everything you need to know about the new regulations and how to successfully apply for permits and licences to run a marijuana-related business.”

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The first session, which allowed a maximum of 75 people in a room at city hall, was held July 30, with two more planned for Aug. 10 (already full) and 13. The Courier attended the first hour of the July 30 session to hear a presentation from Andreea Toma, the city’s chief licence inspector, but was told to leave for the question and answer portion because participants didn’t sign up anticipating media would be in the room.

Toma outlined much of what has already been made public about the new bylaws, which city council approved in June after a marathon public hearing. The city has made it clear its aim is to regulate the businesses – not the product – by implementing $30,000 annual licence fees ($1,000 for non-profit “compassion clubs”), criminal record checks and zoning regulations that prohibit pot shops from operating within 300 metres of schools, community centres and each other.

Under the new regulations, applicants have to undergo a series of steps and reviews before being granted a business licence, with the first requirement to have an application completed by Aug. 21. Toma emphasized the need for operators to not allow minors in the shops or advertise to them and sign a “good neighbour agreement.”

“The more complaints we get against you, the more you’ll see of us,” she told the crowd, which included marijuana advocates Don Briere, David Malmo Levine and Jodie Emery. “So it’s really in your best interest to do your best to manage that.”

Briere, who co-owns nine Weeds Glass and Gifts, told the Courier during a break in the session that he still doesn’t agree with the $30,000 annual licence fee, saying casinos and liquor stores pay about 10 per cent or less for a licence.

“How is that fair in any way, shape or form?” he said. “If they want $30,000 each for, say, 10 stores, that’s $300,000. It’s just not feasible. The rents are high, you want to pay a decent wage for the people working there and the product is expensive. It’s $2,000 a pound.”

The $30,000 fee has Briere and his partners considering turning their dispensaries into compassion clubs to avoid the expensive cost of a licence. But in adhering to the city’s definition of a compassion club, Briere would have to register his stores under the province’s Society Act and offer at least two health services for 60 per cent of operating hours or more per month.

“They’re forcing us to do it,” he said.

Realtor Setti Java, who attended the session, said she was there on behalf of a client interested in setting up a dispensary. Java said her client is a university professor and willing to pay the $30,000 fee. She said she didn’t anticipate any problems getting a licence. The bigger problem, she said, is finding a landlord willing to rent a space for a dispensary.

“I have called so many places and they say, ‘no,’” she said, noting the 300-metre restriction is also proving a problem to locate a suitable storefront.

Norma, who wouldn’t provide her surname, said she opened a dispensary six weeks ago on East Hastings. She wouldn’t provide the address but said her plan is to expand the business by setting up a cannabis “educational centre” with a doctor on the premise every Thursday.

Regardless of what Norma does with the business, she said the fact the federal government still continues to consider marijuana illegal – except for patients approved to use the drug – is causing her problems. Recently, two employees stole cash and marijuana from the store.

“The police said there’s nothing we can do, it’s still illegal,” she said, noting a $30,000 fee doesn’t include “police protection.”

The city will not say how many applications it has received since council passed the new bylaws in June but estimates there are close to 100 pot shops operating in Vancouver.

mhowell@vancourier.com

@Howellings