The Vancouver Police Department has taken, and will continue to take, in the face of amended marijuana laws, a priority based approach to the enforcement of those laws.

The drug enforcement policy of the VPD has been on public record for several years. Based on available resources, the VPD Drug Unit targets as a priority:

  • violent street and mid-level drug traffickers
  • violent gang members who traffic drugs
  • drug traffickers who prey on vulnerable or marginalized persons
  • upper-level traffickers who are violent in their criminal activities
  • meth or other drug operations that pose a danger to the public
  • traffickers who sell cocaine, heroin and meth

For the most part, medical marijuana dispensaries operating today in Vancouver do not meet these criteria.

But they are currently illegal, and they will continue to be illegal after changes to the legislation on April 1 – there will be no change in their legal status.

Because they are illegal, they cannot be licensed and may be shut down where circumstances warrant such action. Operators and staff can be subject to criminal charges for possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking and for trafficking of marijuana.

The VPD is aware of every medical marijuana dispensary in the city. The VPD has taken enforcement action against several dispensaries in the past and will take action again if there are threats to public safety. Factors considered include proximity to schools and parks, public complaints, safety of the building, evidence of organized crime, or evidence of trafficking to buyers without doctors’ prescriptions.

The VPD will use similar criteria in relation to the new changes in the law that reduce the number of medical marijuana growers by eliminating legal “personal” grow operations.

“Vancouver is not a wide open city for the marijuana trade,” said Chief Constable Jim Chu. “We have received legal advice from prosecutors, and we will forward cases that meet the existing charge approval standard to prosecutors. Because of complexities in the law, we will continue to consult with prosecutors on current Charter of Rights challenges and case law from the courts. Anyone who opens an illegal business, to sell an illegal product, is taking a risk that they could be charged criminally.”