Pubdate: Wed, 02 Sep 2009 Source: Grand Forks Gazette (CN BC) Copyright: 2009 Sterling Newspapers Contact: http://www.mapinc.org/media/525 Author: Shella Gardezi COUNCILLOR NEEDS TO COME CLEAN Well, Grand Forks, we've finally done it. We were over-using our right to free speech and so a local city councillor had to take another right away from us - freedom of information Coun. Joy Davies has created a brand new task force to study the issue of medical marijuana and, guess what, you and I are not allowed to know who is on it. Of course, at first I said, why would I care? Davies can meet with anyone she wants to meet with. But then I heard this secretive society is going to bring recommendations forward to the city council that was voted in by the citizens and paid for by the citizens. That makes it our business. According to her documents, these recommendations will be about providing a legal, local, safe access model for providing medical marijuana and lobbying the provincial and federal governments with this model. As it stands now, the city cannot legally start up any grow-op or distribution system. So, why are we not allowed to know who is on this committee? Because apparently, Davies says she has "been on the end of both public and private slights, shots, discrimination, screaming at and anger." I'm not making light of her concerns, but if Davies believes there is a legitimate threat to herself or others, she needs to call the police. On the other hand, I've been told I'm guilty, too. I received a letter from an Ontario member of a non-profit group which advocates for improved access to medical marijuana. When asked by a local resident why I had not printed this letter on our op-ed page, I said letters from local residents are given priority over "lobbyists from Ontario." That's right. I used the "L" word. Because of that, I was told in an e-mail by Davies that I had "sensationalized and hurt people" - a slight exaggeration. So, if your right to freedom of information was taken away recently, go ahead and blame me. Or if you think, being denied your right to freedom of information is wrong, no matter what opinion you may have on this subject, then call or e-mail your city council and let them know that your rights aren't up for debate. It's called "lobbying" and it isn't a dirty word. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr