To the Editor,
Re: Pot shops had to be closed, Editorial, Dec. 3.
We categorically reject the editorial’s painting of all dispensaries with the same brush. Trees Dispensary has worked very hard to be a legitimate business that contributes to the local economy and the health of the City of Nanaimo. We employ over 40 people at a living wage, and offer health and dental benefits. We stand behind our employees. We are now paying their legal fees, and we will continue to pay their wages even though they are now prohibited from returning to work. The “regulation, taxation, and education” the editorial speaks of is something that we have been working very hard on for over a year. We pay payroll taxes, GST, and income tax. We have an account with Canada Revenue Agency and have paid over $200,000 of taxes to the federal govenrment since we began operations.
We would now like to see the City of Nanaimo regulate businesses such as ours, and I will be presenting to the Nanaimo city council on Dec. 14 on suggested regulations for dispensaries here. Our growers were licensed under the federal Liberal government’s 2001 medical marijuana authorization regulations, and we regularly have our products tested for pesticides, mould and potency. We strictly prohibit consumption in or near our storefront, and we can account for every product that we sell to every one of our members.
We work very hard to be good neighbours, responsible business owners, and a force for good in the community, and we believe that the people of Nanaimo support us and want us to continue to work in this community.
Alex Robbcommunity liaisonTrees Dispensary