As the Town of Oliver prepares to deal with the medical marijuana issue, it has questions about a local storefront with the name “Cannabliss Java and Tea.”
At Monday’s committee of the whole meeting, staff informed council that someone recently set up the establishment in the Sunshine Café building on Main Street adjacent to 7-Eleven.
Staff said one individual claimed that he purchased marijuana from this location.
Interim chief administrative officer (CAO) Tom Szalay said the Town received a complaint about this shop last week. He stated that Town staff attended the establishment, but the doors were locked.
Szalay said the RCMP were contacted.
“The only way into the building is with a warrant,” the CAO said.
Szalay indicated that the Town’s building official will try to contact the owner to get more information.
“If the sign implies they are selling marijuana, they can’t do that,” he pointed out.
But the owner of Cannabliss Java and Tea said he’s not doing anything illegal, noting the allegation that he’s selling marijuana is a lie.
“They’re lying; they’re making it up . . . I wouldn’t be that stupid,” said John Micka, who has operated the Sunshine Café for the past six years.
Micka said he had to shut down for a while due to illness, but he’s feeling better and wants to “try a different format.”
He explained that if a customer requests cannabis butter in their coffee, he can oblige them. He noted that this ingredient is primarily supplied by his customers.
Micka said there are many cannabis-infused recipes and/or edibles on the market. You can even buy cannabis-infused pizza in Vancouver, he pointed out.
“I’m not going to sell marijuana and I have no intention of doing that,” Micka said, noting that he has a licence to sell coffee in Oliver and that’s exactly what he’s doing.
The proprietor said he has had a number of enquiries from customers asking about cannabis-infused coffee, so he decided to “go for it.”
“Customers bring in their own ingredients and I put them in . . . whatever you want.”
Micka said he has been selling cannabis-infused coffee prior to putting up the new sign on his building.
Micka stated that all medical marijuana dispensaries are illegal except in cities that issue licences for them.
Sergeant Blaine Gervais from the Oliver RCMP said they have been made aware of an unconfirmed account of an unknown person saying they purchased a cannabis product at an undisclosed shop on Main Street. He noted the investigation into this report has yet to begin.
Gervais said the RCMP would not accuse someone or a business of an offence without having justification.
Town staff presented a report to council on Monday about the legalization and regulation surrounding access to marijuana for medical purposes.
The federal government created a task force to design a new system of regulating marijuana for distribution and use, while enforcing public safety and protection.
Corporate Officer Diane Vaykovich said council may wish to wait for the outcome of the task force discussion paper before making any decisions.
To date, the Town has not received any medical marijuana dispensary applications, however, it recently heard from one individual (Grant Bruce) who was promoting access to medical marijuana in Oliver.
Vaykovich said the distribution of medical marijuana through a store-front dispensary is currently illegal. She noted the only legal method of distribution is through the mail from a licenced operation.
Mayor Ron Hovanes said he wants to wait for the federal government to establish the rules before the Town decides what to do.
By Lyonel Doherty
