Pubdate: Tue, 11 May 2010
Source: Maple Ridge Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2010 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc
Contact:  http://www.mrtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1372
Author: Amy Steele
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?216 (CN Police)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada)

COPS WANT FED APPROVAL BEFORE BUSTING MEDICINAL POT SHOP

Police won't move in and charge anyone involved with the new 
medicinal marijuana dispensary operating in Maple Ridge unless they 
get approval from the federal Department of Justice to do so.

That's what Ridge Meadows RCMP Supt. Dave Walsh told Maple Ridge 
council at a meeting on Monday.

"If we were going to consider any enforcement action in regards to 
this it would be at the direction of both Health Canada as well as 
the Department of Justice so I guess from our perspective we're still 
in the information gathering and consultative stage," he said. "The 
decision would be the Department of Justice's as to whether, given 
these set of circumstances, they would be willing to prosecute."

Inspector Derren Lench told council there are three medicinal 
marijuana dispensaries in Vancouver, two in Victoria and one in 
Kelowna. Health Canada grants permission for people with certain 
medical conditions to use medicinal marijuana and gives some people 
who use it medicinally the right to grow it or to designate someone 
to grow it for them. People can also buy marijuana from a federal 
government supplier. However, Lench and Walsh pointed out 
dispensaries aren't legally allowed to do so.

"They have modelled it after Vancouver and Victoria (dispensaries) so 
that's another piece we're looking at, too. Are they turning a blind 
eye there?" said Lench.

However, he said even if those municipalities are "turning a blind 
eye" that doesn't necessarily mean local RCMP would do so.

Walsh said police also have to determine if the dispensary, operated 
by the non-profit Always Growing Green Society (TAGGS), is doing what 
they claim to be doing. Society members told The TIMES only people 
with federal permission to use medicinal marijuana or people with 
doctor's letters could buy pot there.

"Are they what they say they are? Are they selling to kids or selling 
to people who don't have medicinal licences?" said Walsh.

Meanwhile, Maple Ridge council members expressed frustration with the 
federal government for creating the situation leading to non-profit 
medicinal marijuana dispensaries opening up.

Councillor Al Hogarth said "the Department of Justice and our friends 
of Ottawa have created a huge black hole in legislation that I think 
they should be made aware of."

Hogarth said he agrees there is "legitimate use" of medicinal 
marijuana but "we obviously have a problem with the way Ottawa has 
brought about this piece of legislation."

Hogarth wants Health Canada to take some responsibility, including 
paying the district compensation for any legal costs it has to incur 
dealing with the dispensary.

"I would suggest you go as far as to say we want compensation for 
what you have put us into," he said. "I don't have a problem being 
compassionate, being whatever you want, but it gets to the point of 
being ridiculous. Maybe we should just legalize the stuff and get on with it."

Coun. Judy Dueck said council isn't "just sitting here just accepting 
that" but is making sure to follow a proper legal route in dealing 
with it. "If it's not legal what are they doing here?" she said.

Coun. Craig Speirs argued the current regulatory regime creates 
problems for legal medicinal marijuana users to access it.

"This is a difficult thing especially for those who use medicinal 
marijuana for health issues. You get a licence to possess and own and 
grow but you can't get a licence to sell that it to people with 
licences so that makes it very difficult for those who don't have a 
green thumb," he said.

Speirs said the federal government should allow people to grow for 
more than two medicinal marijuana licence holders to create "economy 
of scale", which would make it more affordable for users who are sick 
and often don't have a lot of money. He said he'd also like to see 
medicinal marijuana grown in industrial or agricultural areas and not 
in residential areas. Speirs also questioned whether the RCMP would 
"lump in" the medicinal marijuana dispensary non-profit with criminal 
gangs growing marijuana.

"Do you put the resources the RCMP enjoys and would employ against a 
gang...does that also apply to this compassionate network?" he said.

Coun. Cheryl Ashlie asked if the district should ask Health Canada to 
go after people with medicinal marijuana licences who are using the 
dispensary, which isn't legally allowed to sell medicinal marijuana

"I guess I'm questioning why we're not punting it back to Health 
Canada to keep their licences under control?" she said, adding people 
with permission to use medicinal marijuana must have to agree to 
specific terms and conditions.

Ashlie said the dispensary is breaking the law and she told police to 
"do whatever you have to do to go after (the dispensary)."

"The law's the law no matter how sick you are or who you are," she said.

Coun. Mike Morden is fearful the dispensary will pose a "safety 
hazard" for the Haney neighbourhood and predicts there could be armed 
robberies.

"Something is going to happen on that premises that will cause the 
RCMP to attend and they will be forced to deal with it. We need to be 
in a position as a community to address the safety of our citizens 
upfront and ahead of time," said Morden.

However, Speirs pointed out there are currently armed robberies of 
pharmacies selling legal drugs.

Brock McDonald, director of business licencing, permits and bylaws, 
told council because the dispensary is operated by a non-profit it's 
not required to have a business licence.

Morden said he wants that to change so council has the ability to 
regulate non-profit activities.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom