Pubdate: Mon, 21 Feb 2011
Source: Prince George Citizen (CN BC)
Page: Front Page
Copyright: 2011 Prince George Citizen
Contact:  http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/350
Author: Arthur Williams
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada)

COUNCIL WANTS TO CHOKE OFF MEDICINAL MARIJUANA

City council will be considering options to restrict production of 
medical marijuana in Prince George on Monday.

Licenses to produce medical marijuana are regulated by Health Canada. 
In his report, city bylaw services manager Guy Gusdal said the city 
could examine bylaws which would prohibit marijuana growth in 
residential-zoned properties or place zoning restrictions on 
marijuana production.

"Staff are currently aware of only one medical marijuana personal-use 
production license in the city, but unfortunately with the current 
system there are no means to accurately determine how many licenses 
exist within the city," Gusdal wrote in his report. "Health Canada 
does not have any provisions for notifying local authorities of 
marijuana production licenses in a municipality's jurisdiction. Due 
to the lack of information sharing it will be extremely difficult for 
the city to take a proactive approach to regulating medical marijuana 
grow operations."

The city can enforce its fire and safety code bylaws on a medicinal 
marijuana grower, he added, but relies on complaints from the public 
to initiate investigations. In his report, Gusdal advised city 
council to support the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' call 
for stronger regulation on medicinal marijuana growers.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has been raising concerns 
about Health Canada's oversight of medical marijuana producers since 2008.

"Municipal fire departments are finding that marijuana growers 
licensed under the [Marijuana Medical Access Regulations] are often 
not adhering to safety regulations," FCM president Basil Stewart 
wrote to Health Minister Leona Aqlukkaq. "Evidence suggests that 
medical marijuana grow operations can present many of the same 
threats to public safety as illegal grow operations."

The FCM is calling on the Health Canada to notify municipal 
governments about medicinal marijuana growers and enforce regulations 
which require medical marijuana producers to adhere to safety regulations.

In a written response, Aqlukkaq said medical marijuana producers are 
required to follow all federal, provincial and municipal laws -- but 
Health Canada does not verify producers adherence to provincial laws 
before or after licensing.

Supporters of medical marijuana say the drug is an invaluable 
treatment for chronic pain and other conditions.

Chronic Pain Association of Canada support group organizer Theresa 
Kyle urged city council not to consider restricting medical marijuana 
production.

"It's an amazing treatment. It really makes such a huge difference 
for me to have clean medicine," Kyle said. "I'm not taking it to get 
high, I'm taking it to relax my muscles. If I had someone to grow my 
medicine for me, I'd be able to go back to work."

Kyle suffers from complex regional pain syndrome, a rare condition 
which causes intense pain, swelling, skin discolouration and sensitivity.

Kyle is one of 2,822 Canadians who have received a federal 
Personal-Use Production License. The license authorizes her to grow 
up to 15 marijuana plants every four months.

"If you have a patient with a federal license to grow, they've gone 
through a rigorous screening process," she said. "Only a specialist 
can proscribe it. You have to go through psychological testing -- 
they don't just put you on it. Any time the federal government can 
walk in, without notice, and inspect your garden."

Kyle does not currently grow marijuana because her landlord will not 
allow it on the property.

"If the city put in a bylaw, it would be even harder," she said. 
"People like me, we don't want to piss people off, we just want our medicine."

City council will debate the issue tonight. Council's meeting starts 
at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom