Just say no: How some communities are fighting pot legalization

CBC News

… The city of Richmond, B.C., has come out as “strongly opposed” to legalization. Council there voted to send letters to the provincial and federal governments expressing their opposition.

Richmond, home to 220,000, is B.C.’s largest city without a marijuana dispensary in operation. When one opened, the city moved swiftly to shut it down.

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie said the dispensary was operating illegally and his city wouldn’t tolerate that. He said nearby White Rock has a similar mindset.

“One leads to two leads to many more,” said Brodie. “If you do not have a license to operate in our city, you are not to operate.”

It’s a far different stance than in Vancouver, where dispensaries are abundant and largely go unchecked.

“I feel that the approach of throwing it wide open is fraught with difficulties,” said Brodie. …

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