Owner of new medical marijuana shop in Regina wants to educate and heal

The owner of a new medicalmarijuana storefront in Regina says her aim is to help educate and heal.

Kelly Csada has Crohn's disease. For years, she has relied on different prescriptions to combat her illness. Csada said shewanted something more natural, so she turned to medical marijuana. Specifically, a small dab of marijuana-basedoil known as 'Phoenix Tears'.

"I found a dispensary in Whitewood at Christmas after I'd spent three weeks in the hospital. They had the Phoenix Tears there, so I tried the oil and I slowly got myself off all my narcotics," Csada said.

"I don't take anything for pain anymore, all I take is the oil."

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Csada has opened up KELZ Medical Services Corporation on Dewdney Avenue in Regina. Her store specializes inmarijuana-based creams,salves and oils.

"I just decided I wanted do this.I want bring it to the public I want toeducate people," Csada said.

In discussing her journey and plan to open the shop, Csada said everyone was curious.

"They just didn't understand how this plant can help people and all thedifferentaspects of it and that you don't have to use it to get high, you can use it to help your body," Csada said.

Csada says KELZMedical Services Corporationis anon-profitcorporation and she is not interested in hiding what she is doing.

"I'm being as open as I can.I have aFacebook.I have awebsite.I'mtalking to people,"Csadasaid.

Csada said she has gone to Regina Mayor Michael Fougere, the RCMPand the Regina Police Service to let them know she was starting a medical marijuana business.She said she insisted the Regina Police open a file on her business.

Dispensaries currently illegal

Even though Csada has been open about her business, Health Canada considers what she's doing illegal.

"Health Canada does not authorize the operation of retail storefronts, such as 'compassion clubs'or 'dispensaries'."

There are currently 35licensed marijuana producers and sellers in Canada, including two in Saskatchewan, KELZ is not one of them.

Csada said she would love to have a license.

Regina police weigh in

The Regina Police Service are reminding business owners to familiarize themselves withHealth Canada regulations around the sale of marijuana products.

"I will bevery clear, businesses, storefronts or other organizations that sell cannabis marijuana in the city of Reginawhether they call themselves compassion clubs, dispensaries, or other names are not authorized to sell cannabis for medical or any other purposes and are subject to law enforcement action by the Regina Police Service,"said acting Police Chief Corey Zaharuk.

The acting chief would not discuss specific businesses but said if there is a law being broken police will investigate.

"None of the regulations permit a store or a business to sell marijuana," Zaharuk said. "Social attitudestowards marijuanaare changing but the police are in a role where we are obligated to enforce existing laws."

Marijuana laws changing

On August 24, thenew Access toCannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations come into effect, allowing Canadians who need marijuana for medical purposes tobe able to 'produce a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes, or designate someone to produce it for them'.

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In addition, the federal government announced it plans to legalizemarijuanain 2017. The specifics are still a bit hazy.

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