Pubdate: Sat, 20 Apr 2013
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 The Vancouver Sun
Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Mike Hager
Page: 6

PROPOSED FEDERAL OVERHAUL PUTS DISPENSARIES AT RISK

New system could phase out small-scale growing operations in favour 
of large, commercial producers in 2014

B.C.'s dispensaries and compassion clubs may come in different shapes 
and sizes, but they could all face extinction under the federal 
government's proposed overhaul of the medicinal marijuana system 
announced last December.

The new system, which the government is now reviewing before its 
proposed implementation date of March 31, 2014, could phase out 
small-scale growing operations for personal use in favour of larger, 
commercial producers.

Under the proposed system, the sale and distribution of medical 
marijuana will be restricted to licensed producers - subject to 
inspections - who will mail their product directly to medical 
marijuana patients.

"The primary means of distribution of dried marihuana would be 
directly from the licensed producer to the registered client using 
secure shipping methods; as the proposed Marihuana for Medical 
Purposes Regulations do not allow for storefront or retail 
distribution centres," a draft of the Health Canada proposal reads.

Jeffrey van Dyke, who runs a medicinal marijuana dispensary near 
Fraser Street and Kingsway in Vancouver, says the government is 
trying to cut out the middlemen it has always distrusted. But he 
doubts it will succeed.

"The producers don't really want to deal with 30,000 people that have 
a legal right to consume cannabis," he says. "They will want to bulk 
ship it to a dispensary, just like pharmaceutical companies bulk ship 
pharmaceuticals to pharmacies.

"The dispensaries are trying to bring a form of consistency and open access."

He envisions dispensaries getting certified by the federal government 
to dispense marijuana to patients over 19.

While van Dyke plans for a future in which the government ultimately 
collaborates with dispensaries, entrepreneur Daniel Petrov says he is 
positioning his dispensary to prosper regardless of what the new 
system looks like.

The 32-year-old from Edmonton co-owns the Med Pot Now dispensary and 
has enough licences to produce medical marijuana for about 8,000 
people with his company, Vancouver Independent Producers (VIP).

VIP grows the marijuana in a stand-alone commercial building 
somewhere in the Fraser Valley and each month supplies its five 
strains to up to 10 dispensaries in Vancouver, Petrov said. He is 
confident he will be able to secure production licences under the new 
system once he upgrades the building's security.

Petrov said the proposed overhaul, prepared by government when "they 
were stuck in a pinch," could force him to shutter his dispensary and 
move his staff to a customer service hotline for patients of VIP.

"I think people are happy and comfortable with the way things work in 
the dispensary system," Petrov said. "We can try to supply the same 
services that we do now, just split the roles to make them fit better 
in the system."

Health Canada's 75-day period for citizens to comment on the proposed 
changes ended Feb. 28, 2013, and the federal body says it will "keep 
all stakeholders informed" as the proposal continues to move through 
the regulatory process.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom