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“I’m gonna heal people, man, whether they like it or not,” says Shirley Martineau.
The owner of Auntie’s Health and Wellness Centre on Barrington Street is candid about selling cannabis oil to her customers without a prescription—proudly flaunting federal drug laws that seem increasingly archaic as Canada inches itself towards legalizing marijuana.
Currently, only medical marijuana patients with a prescription can purchase cannabis oil, and even then, only from the government’s 36 licensed providers—none of which are in Nova Scotia.
The Auntie’s franchise at 1547 Barrington Street, which opened in July, offers cannabis oil to customers suffering from cancer and other ailments. Originally that was only with a prescription, but Martineau says she got tired of sending away people in pain.
“Last week done me in,” says the 66-year-old. “I had three patients in a row that couldn’t find a doctor…They’re leaving here crying. I just couldn’t handle it no more.
“I said ‘Open the doors!’”
Auntie’s is one of several dispensaries in Halifax—hundreds across the country—that have taken advantage of the legal grey zone that exists while Canada awaits legalized marijuana. Well, grey to some. It’s pretty black-and-white to the city.
Tiffany Chase, spokesperson for the Halifax Regional Municipality, says Auntie’s was denied a business occupancy permit as a wellness centre after an inspection during the application review process found the business was selling medical marijuana products. The store has now been issued an order to comply with municipal bylaws.
“We have not and would not issue an occupancy permit for a medical marijuana dispensary, as federal regulations currently prohibit the sale of medical marijuana through a retail store-front,” writes Chase in an email.
Auntie’s isn’t alone in fighting city hall. Other local medical marijuana dispensaries have also come up against HRM’s permitting policies. Tasty Budds, in Cole Harbour, lost an appeal to the Utility and Review Board this summer after HRM denied the business’ occupancy permit. Owner Mal McMeekin told Metro Halifax at the time he was appealing that decision, and carrying on with business as usual.
Martineau says she’s also appealing the city’s order, but is upfront about her operation, which was already in violation of federal law before she ditched the ‘scripts.
“I’m going to jail,” she predicts, though she isn’t fond of that potential outcome. “I don’t want to go to jail, like anybody else, but I’m going to sacrifice it to make sure people get the access to their medication.”
While Justin Trudeau remains committed to legalizing marijuana in Canada sometime in the near future, the prime minister has told police departments to enforce the law and criminally charge storefront dispensaries.
Despite that, Halifax Regional Police have left her alone, she says. There have been no dramatic raids, like HRP conducted on Farm Assists one year ago this month.
Possibly that’s because storefront retail shops aren’t top priority right now for Halifax police. Instead, the department is focusing on marijuana traffickers and those involved with firearms.
“They’re the ones targeted first and foremost,” HRP chief Jean-Michel Blais told Monday’s meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners.
Criminal or not, Martineau says she won’t stop trying to give back some hope to her customers.
“People need help. That’s why I was put on this Earth.”
Update: Chase emails to clarify Auntie’s was never issued an occupancy permit, as her original statement could be misconstrued. We’ve adjusted the wording above for clarity’s sake.
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This article appears in Dec 15-21, 2016.
Shut them down!
If you trying to pretend you’re only selling medical marijuana, perhaps you shouldn’t call yourself Tasty Budds…
Justin’s dad is turning over in his grave for towing the company line.
Who fuckin cares? It’s gonna be legal in 4 months, I don’t understand what all the fuss is about. The people have already spoken, the legalization platform was voted for by the majority of Canadians. As soon as the Libs took office, they should have done what they promised and legalized it, then stood out of the way and let the provinces roll out their plans. But noooooooo, the pieces of shit left everyone without a doctor swinging in the wind. Shameful!!!!
Good on you, Shirley. If you get busted I’ll gladly give to a GoFundMe for your legal fees!!!
Peace, and fuck the government!!!!!!
So I guess it’s ok for me to go around Halifax selling weed because my customers are definitely in pain and I can’t bare to see that….Smh how can she get an article for this
Sorry Poprah, it will NOT be legal in 4 months; they will reveal a framework by which legal marijuana will be sold. That will have to go through another review and critique process and I imagine it will be a Liberal election platform item (bringing in the revised legislation) in the NEXT election.
C&D, “she” didn’t get the article; rather, one was done about her. I too shake my had when I see these “I’m in pain and need weed” claims. I’ve never experienced pain relief from smoking weed – and I have been smoking weed for 38 years. I do see some psychological benefit and it does improve my appetite but the depth to which people will go to legitimize their use of weed is sad. You are a pot head. Pot heads are okay. Get over yourselves.
Smoking weed and eating concentrates are two completely different things. People who take for pain are usually on a high dose of concentrates, and only smoke weed to maintain. There are lots of people who use for medicinal only, calling them potheads is just uneducated and rude. What works for one person may not work for others, but don’t label patients as drug addicts. I personally use for both med and rec, so I can’t fully play the patient card, but I certainly wouldn’t pretend to know what people with ALS, MS, epilepsy, etc…go through and on a daily basis, and I certainly wouldn’t call terminal patients “potheads”.
Smoke weed every day, for body, mind and soul!!!
And fuck the government!!!!
Just because you’ve never experienced any form of pain relief from pot doesn’t mean it can’t provide it. Pot affects people differently and you don’t speak for the entire populace. Maybe you should take your own advice and get over yourself METHHINKSYHZ
I have AO AND SPINAL STENOSIS Two knee replacements,stomach problems cause by all the anti inflammatory also ibs.I have asked both my doctors my GP and my specialist both said they don’t prescribe. I have constant pain now they have me on a high does of steroids which do nothing I am losing my mobility,I have gone down hill in the last 6 months I WOULD TRY THIS
I NEED SOME HELP.
,
Selling rso oil for 100 bucks is helping nobody but herself
I find it amazing that no one even questions the government’s authority to tell us what plants we can have, grow, eat or smoke. If I partook of it, which I do not, no government would be deciding whether I may grow my own or not either. Clearly, they are unfit to govern anything; look at the bastardization of our water and food supply!
There is an actual medical clinic in cole harbour called Trauma Healing Center. They treat ptsd, chronic pain, & cancer patients. You need a referral though im pretty sure.
http://www.traumahc.com
Anyone taking bets they lock her up on Friday, so she can’t bail out until Monday?
I need it… to get high
Bless this woman! Anyone who beats this woman down and trys to incriminate this woman is in FACT more criminal. The violent law against humanity!
@redrocketv8- Just for that evil though…..you belong in prison with the animals it houses. Not any human with any amount of weed. You are a bad person. I judge your very lonely person! GOOD!
If you are against Marijuana……YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY HYPOCRITE!! In a massive way. You prove to be unintelligent with your terrible arguments,zero science and totally brainwashed.
How can the anti-marijuana brainwashed crowd have the nerve to say “marijuana makes people stupid” when they sound like the most stupid people in the arena,the country,the planet! Led me to this question-What drugs do these people “pop” on a daily basis that is making them so mindless? Certainly isn’t weed since they hate it so much for no real reasons yet pop prescription pills and drink every weekend(Who is health burden?). Time to GET REAL!
If these people have never ever seen or tried it before then what made these people so fucking stupid ignorant willfully? Willfully dumbest arguments on earth when they get proven wrong over and over again while living and observing the same shit we all are and still fucking repeating 1950’s propaganda is mind boggling. Did they have smart phones then? Didn’t think! So everything else can evolve except views on a plant EVERYONE WAS FED LIES ABOUT SO TO ZOMBIE-FY US ALL WITH BIG PHARMA MONOPOLY.
The law itself is far more harmful than anything and the people who enforce such inhumane laws are pigs! Straight up pigs! Disgusting human beings.FACT!
I have zero respect for other humans who use their sick authority to beat on otherwise peaceful and harmless human beings all because of LIES.
How does it benefit an economy when you incarcerate everyone for something less harmful than pop and chips turning them into hardened criminals due to lack of job prospects and becoming friends with “real gangsters” in jail? How is a guy/gal helping economy by being forced into the welfare system due to such bullshit criminal record? Someone should should ask that fucktard so-called Economist Stephen Harper and his idiotic supporters that one EH?
FUCK THIS LAW FOREVER! True humans must stand up to these assholes once and for all and i wish this lady well into her future.
The Prohibitionist idiots and the things they say about something that judging by what they say have never tried it or have any experience with it reminds me of the type of idiot who never ever played hockey,can’t even skate but says things like “Sidney Crosby sucks!” just because his favorite team is Toronto Maple Leafs and has no other knowledge of the game. Not even know what “offside” or “icing” is but critique all the player.
Catch my drift anybody?
I tell you what though……That inhumane law is way offside. Maybe police will start getting more respect had they left people along. Maybe after it gets legalized AS IT SHOULD BE then the cops can start working on earning respect from the tax payers who pay their wages to keep us safe,not attack citizens. Thanks!
Thanks for the insightful analysis Donny.
Save some pop and chips for Boxing Day tho…
“true humans” ?
No anonymau5, I didn’t say that. Re-read what I wrote.
Occasional drinker, not on any prescription drugs. Tried weed enough times to know it’s not my bag. Generally don’t have a problem with people who do partake. Think it’s absolutely crazy that we create criminals out of people for its use.
All that being said, this whole, “OMG marijuana is a magic drug and the cure for all that ails you” crap needs to stop. Marijuana has mild medicinal value. It also has a lot of negative impacts. And yes, so do lots of other things we do. But I’m sick and tired of people pretending like marijuana doesn’t–at least own up to it–and acting like their drug habit is some enlightened way of life.
Good 4 Her, I absolutely hate the fact that Alcohol is even legal FFS.
Marijuana is a HERB which herbs are God’s medicine.
WTF is wrong with this world Everything Bad 4 Us is all legal, yet what is right is always so wrong and illegal. It ticks Me right off to the tilt.
oh & The Holy Bible also says we can Have ALL Herbs, just read it, look it up in the search even. Idiots, just plain pathetic idiots. And don’t get Me started on that Justin Trader %$#$^)(& .
Just drove by; the place isn’t hurting for business. It’s full of kids too…
Did I say kids? They must be patients. Terrible that they are so young to be in pain…
Thankfully, modern society generally does not get its medical advice from the Holy Bible…
Yes, hipp5, thankfully they don’t take advice from your comprehensive study on the effects of marijuana either.
Since when did cannibis OIL get anyone high? It’s not pot.
Well, now she’s been arrested. This will be interesting.
I think that her running a business without any of the regulations that other businesses have to deal with (occupancy permit, fire code, accessible washroom etc) is a real problem and should be an issue. Her selling pot is of limited consequence in my mind; it’s not like people who want to use pot recreationally can’t get it anyway.
Brian If you have made oil which you have not I’m not going insult you. like you’ve done to me .WE know what hapened between us so let’s not go there But your insulting what I do and and what I believe. If youStarted from good product and iyso you would know the cost
It’s pure and not mixed with anything else .No coconut oil.no gyserin let’s do the math Bud .30grams and Alcohol.and you purge that til you get a thick tar like.you get 3or4 grams of oil Not also counting on the danger it is to make. It’s not easy. If it was everyone would do it So I get 3or4gr of oil with 30gr of Bud. At 250 a oz. And the ISO.So where do I make any money. ?Ask anyone of your friends that make oil