Pubdate: Sat, 15 Jun 2013
Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Nanaimo Daily News
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608
Author: Darrell Bellaart
Page: 3

COST OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA MAY JUMP

Current users worry that price could soar once new Health Canada
regulations are put in place

When Glenda Barr started using medical marijuana, it was to get relief
from the pain of arthritis in her left ankle. But she made a surprise
personal discovery - cannabinoids, the range of active ingredients in
pot - got rid of the inflammation that causes the pain.

Next year, changes to Health Canada regulations for growing and
accessing medical marijuana take effect.

The changes will likely make it easier for people like Barr to get a
prescription for the drug, but she's worried about the cost of medical
pot as a result of the new rules.

Barr takes her medical pot in the evening, before bed. She has a
licensed grower who grows it for her in a home-based operation, but
next year, home production will be banned.

It's part of a government move to crack down on illegal growops and
the crime it can attract, but Barr worries she will have to pay
considerably more.

"They're talking about costs going to something like $8.80 a gram."
Now, she pays less than $1 a gram to have a licensed grower produce
it, so "it's huge."

She inhales it from a vapourizer, a method users say lessens the risk
from smoking. She is considering moving over to edible forms such as
cookies.

Through trial and error, she's found a strain that works best for her
condition, and fears commercial producers will have a limited
selection to choose from.

"Blueberry is the most effective (strain) for me," Barr said. "When I
took prescription drugs, everyone told me it made me a total goof."

Next year, licensed users will need only a doctor's note to use the
drug, but access will be limited to private growers, who will sell it
by mail-order.

The city of Nanaimo has taken steps to prepare for that change, by
adding medical marijuana cultivation as an approved use under the I-4,
heavy industrial zoning designation.

"Most of that is out at Duke Point," said Andrew Tucker, city
community development director. "It's moving from a small-scale
residential model to one closer to a pharmaceutical, industrial, large
scale, produced with some sort of security."

The zoning bylaw will require pot to be cultivated indoors, with a
back-up generator in place in case of power failures, and with
adequate ventilation.

City council will consider the bylaw for final adoption on June
24.

The new Health Canada regulations take effect April 1, 2014.
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MAP posted-by: Matt