Vancouver files injunctions to shut down unlicensed pot shops

The City of Vancouver has announced it's filing injunctions in B.C. Supreme Court to close 17 of 55 unlicensed marijuana dispensaries.

The city says it has specifically targeted these 17 pot shopsbecause of their proximity to other shops, their response to enforcement action andcommunity feedback. Chief licensing inspectorAndreea Toma says the city will also be seeking injunctions for the remaining 38 stores.

"We're not going to stop, we're going to continue ... to gather information that we need and we'll continue to file injunctions as well," Toma said.

In June 2015, Vancouver city council voted to regulate and license medical marijuana retailers, making it the first city in Canada to do so.But only six per cent of those thatapplied were successful.

Injunctions have been submitted for the following shops:

• The Healing Tree:8180 Champlain Crescent.
• Cannabis Culture / The Healing Tree:512 Beatty Street.
• Divine Ventures:8640 Granville Street.
• Weeds Glass & Gifts: 1232 Burrard Street, 1108 Richards Street, 104 1807 Burrard Street, 405 Skeena Street, 6657 Main Street, and 2580 Kingsway.
• Vancity Medicinals:1299 Kingsway
• Imedikate:6128 Fraser Street
• Green Cross Society B.C.:2145 Kingsway
• Lotusland Cannabis Club:3474 W. Broadway
• Health Lifestyle Dispensary:1092 Kingsway
• Sea to Sky Dispensary & Lounge:100 68 E. Second Avenue
• BC Pain Society:2908 Commercial Drive
• Buddha's Sister House of Cannabis:2918 W. FourthAvenue

Source: City of Vancouver

View a map of the 17 dispensarieswith injunctions against them.

Only one licence issued

The city says31 pot shops have complied with a recent deadline for their closurefollowing the denial of their licence application.

Only one business has been issued a licence, the third and final stage in the approval process.

The development permit is the second stage in the licence approval process the city says it has issued10 development permits, and another 11 are under review.

View amap of the21 pot shops issued a development permit or business licence.

The city says it has been finingnon-compliant shops by issuing$250 tickets. So far, it has issued 224 fines.