Jukka Laurio said he was planning to go quietly into the background and close Herbal Greens, his medical marijuana dispensary, until the City of Penticton put him back in business.

91裸聊视频淎pparently I am open for business, didn91裸聊视频檛 you hear? That91裸聊视频檚 what the city told everybody,91裸聊视频� said Laurio, referring to a press release issued by the city Tuesday evening. In it, the city announced they were proceeding with court action against Laurio for failure to close Herbal Greens as directed.

91裸聊视频淭hey are the ones that put it in the news. As soon as people heard it in the news, there was a lineup this morning (April 26) outside the door,91裸聊视频� said Laurio, adding that he chose to open the medical marijuana dispensary and sell product.

91裸聊视频淚f I am being accused of something and I am being punished for it, I sure as hell am going to do it. They should have just let it go. I would have given up the building, I would have been gone,91裸聊视频� said Laurio. 91裸聊视频淚f they (City of Penticton) want to keep me in business, I will stay in business.91裸聊视频�

City council endorsed the injunctive action at a March 21 meeting, where Laurio agreed to close his business.

More:

91裸聊视频淭hat has not occurred,91裸聊视频� said Anthony Haddad, director of development services. 91裸聊视频淗e still operated his business, as evidenced by the April 20 grand reopening.91裸聊视频�

Laurio said he did close his business, as promised, on March 23, clearing out the sales floor, liquidating assets, and advising the building owner he wanted to terminate his lease. April 20 was a special event.

91裸聊视频淚 opened on April 20 91裸聊视频� 420 (marijuana91裸聊视频檚 high holiday) 91裸聊视频� for a political message event. I had a two-for-one sale,91裸聊视频� said Laurio. Other than that, he has only been selling to his 91裸聊视频減ersonal clientele.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭hey will never go away. They91裸聊视频檝e been around for seven or eight years, that is not going to stop,91裸聊视频� said Laurio, who was unconcerned by the legal implications.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 illegal. There is only 37,000 people that can smoke marijuana legally in Canada. All other marijuana sales, all other marijuana use in Canada is illegal. A dispensary is illegal, they91裸聊视频檙e all illegal,91裸聊视频� said Laurio.

Laurio said he can stretch the city91裸聊视频檚 court process out to last the year to go before legalization of marijuana is expected to be implemented.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e had many discussions with Mr. Laurio over the last year and well before that. It was clear to us that he has reopened his business in contravention to council91裸聊视频檚 direction and the business licence bylaw, so we are proceeding with the action to hopefully bring a close to the matter,91裸聊视频� said Haddad. 91裸聊视频淲e are also pursuing the outstanding $30,000 in fines that have been issued since the temporary use permit was denied.91裸聊视频�

More: