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.

害羞草研究所淎pparently I am open for business, didn害羞草研究所檛 you hear? That害羞草研究所檚 what the city told everybody,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淭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,害羞草研究所� said Laurio, adding that he chose to open the medical marijuana dispensary and sell product.

害羞草研究所淚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,害羞草研究所� said Laurio. 害羞草研究所淚f they (City of Penticton) want to keep me in business, I will stay in business.害羞草研究所�

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

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害羞草研究所淭hat has not occurred,害羞草研究所� said Anthony Haddad, director of development services. 害羞草研究所淗e still operated his business, as evidenced by the April 20 grand reopening.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淚 opened on April 20 害羞草研究所� 420 (marijuana害羞草研究所檚 high holiday) 害羞草研究所� for a political message event. I had a two-for-one sale,害羞草研究所� said Laurio. Other than that, he has only been selling to his 害羞草研究所減ersonal clientele.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭hey will never go away. They害羞草研究所檝e been around for seven or eight years, that is not going to stop,害羞草研究所� said Laurio, who was unconcerned by the legal implications.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檙e all illegal,害羞草研究所� said Laurio.

Laurio said he can stretch the city害羞草研究所檚 court process out to last the year to go before legalization of marijuana is expected to be implemented.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝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害羞草研究所檚 direction and the business licence bylaw, so we are proceeding with the action to hopefully bring a close to the matter,害羞草研究所� said Haddad. 害羞草研究所淲e are also pursuing the outstanding $30,000 in fines that have been issued since the temporary use permit was denied.害羞草研究所�

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