Victoria will write to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for clarification on the federal government’s plans for the legalization and regulation of marijuana.

Meanwhile, the city will continue to develop its own regulations governing marijuana shops.

During the election campaign, the federal Liberals promised to remove Criminal Code provisions against possession and consumption of marijuana and to institute a federal system for sales and distribution.

Victoria councillors Marianne Alto and Chris Coleman suggested pausing efforts to develop regulations surrounding the marijuana retail trade until the city heard from the prime minister or Feb. 19 — whichever came first.

Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer says his department is in a good position to adapt to new marijuana laws if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau follows through on his promise to legalize the drug.

The city already has a progressive approach to softer drugs, he noted.

"My focus, since I've been chief, and with the prior chief as well, the focus was on more serious drugs like fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin and the violence associated to that."Ultimately, police will follow the new Canadian government's lead, he said.

"I know the Liberals have said they are going to legalize it for possession of small amounts of marijuana. Whatever the law of the land is, the police department will roll with it."

RCMP in two provinces have seized more than $232,000 in cash, nearly 100 kilograms of marijuana and 14 vehicles after a huge drug bust following an extensive investigation.

Operation Hagrid was a five-month investigation targeting a suspected drug trafficking network between the Vancouver area and Eastern and Atlantic Canada including:

• Toronto
• Montreal
• Halifax
• St. John's

Investigators found that people were taking commercial flights and transporting large quantities of marijuana and cash in checked bags. 

"These individuals had an established network operating a sophisticated drug distribution chain that has ties to organized crime," Nova Scotia RCMP Insp. Mike Payne in a news release. 

The city has officially sent out its first round of letters ordering the closure of specific marijuana dispensaries.

But even though there are more than 90 storefronts illegally selling cannabis in Vancouver, only two were mailed letters stating they must shut their doors “immediately” or “be subject to enforcement action”.

Those locations are Quick Stop Dispensary at 2893 East Broadway and Health Lifestyle Marijuana Supply Centre at 201–1011 Commercial Drive, according to Vancouver’s chief licensing inspector, Andreea Toma.

Vancouver may soon be seeing fewer marijuana dispensaries, but not all owners are ready to accept their rejection notices.

The city recently issued new zoning and business licensing regulations for marijuana dispensaries. Earlier this year, 176 businesses applied for licences. Of those, 11 marijuana shops were approved to continue on to the second phase of the application process.

The large number of businesses that did not meet the new regulations has some owners planning to appeal the rejection of their applications.

As the owner of two medical marijuana dispensaries in the city, he is in a unique situation following the city’s review of his shops.

Vancouver marijuana dispensaries that did not submit a licence application last summer must close their doors “immediately”, the city has warned, or “be subject to enforcement action”.

“The City inspects these businesses regularly,” states an October 26 media release. “As with other businesses, the City will use a range of enforcement tools, including fines and legal action.”

That was included in an update on a licensing process that the city began last June with the adoption of a new legal framework for marijuana-related businesses.

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Vancouver marijuana dispensaries that did not submit a licence application last summer must close their doors “immediately”, the city has warned, or “be subject to enforcement action”.

“The City inspects these businesses regularly,” states an October 26 media release. “As with other businesses, the City will use a range of enforcement tools, including fines and legal action.”

That was included in an update on a licensing process that the city began last June with the adoption of a new legal framework for marijuana-related businesses.

What will marijuana legalization look like under the Liberal government? Marijuana advocates are hinting into how the legalization process will play out in Canada when Justin Trudeau is sworn in as Prime Minister on November 4th.

From The Georgia Straight:

B.C. Senator Larry Campbell says prime minister-delegate Justin Trudeau should give it a year to 18 months before legalizing marijuana — to make sure it is done right.  

Trudeau promised to legalize marijuana across Canada 'right away', but hasn't committed to a timeline for legalization. 

Campbell — the former mayor of Vancouver — said there needs to be communication across all three levels of government for the proper roll-out of pot legalization.