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.

香蕉视频直播淎pparently I am open for business, didn香蕉视频直播檛 you hear? That香蕉视频直播檚 what the city told everybody,香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淭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,香蕉视频直播� said Laurio, adding that he chose to open the medical marijuana dispensary and sell product.

香蕉视频直播淚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,香蕉视频直播� said Laurio. 香蕉视频直播淚f they (City of Penticton) want to keep me in business, I will stay in business.香蕉视频直播�

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

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香蕉视频直播淭hat has not occurred,香蕉视频直播� said Anthony Haddad, director of development services. 香蕉视频直播淗e still operated his business, as evidenced by the April 20 grand reopening.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淚 opened on April 20 香蕉视频直播� 420 (marijuana香蕉视频直播檚 high holiday) 香蕉视频直播� for a political message event. I had a two-for-one sale,香蕉视频直播� said Laurio. Other than that, he has only been selling to his 香蕉视频直播減ersonal clientele.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭hey will never go away. They香蕉视频直播檝e been around for seven or eight years, that is not going to stop,香蕉视频直播� said Laurio, who was unconcerned by the legal implications.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 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, they香蕉视频直播檙e all illegal,香蕉视频直播� said Laurio.

Laurio said he can stretch the city香蕉视频直播檚 court process out to last the year to go before legalization of marijuana is expected to be implemented.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝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 council香蕉视频直播檚 direction and the business licence bylaw, so we are proceeding with the action to hopefully bring a close to the matter,香蕉视频直播� said Haddad. 香蕉视频直播淲e are also pursuing the outstanding $30,000 in fines that have been issued since the temporary use permit was denied.香蕉视频直播�

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