Pubdate: Tue, 21 Jan 2014
Source: Peace Arch News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Peace Arch News
Contact:  http://www.peacearchnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1333
Author: Tracy Holmes

SUPPORT SOUGHT FOR MEDICAL CANNABIS

Provincial Program Urged, As Federal Plans Upset Medical-Marijuana
Advocates

David Hutchinson knows well the benefits of medical marijuana; he saw
the difference it made to his daughter, Beth, during her struggle with
brain cancer.

Beth "got great benefits from medical cannabis, and we extended her
life," Hutchinson told White Rock council last week.

Beth died on Oct. 25 at the age of 20. Less than four years before
that, Hutchinson's wife, Kay, succumbed to the same disease.

Hutchinson, a South Surrey resident, shared the heart-wrenching
details in an appeal for council's support of an effort to convince
the B.C. government to strike a task force to "set parameters for a
provincial medical-cannabis program."

The move is part of ongoing opposition to new federal regulations
around medical-marijuana grow-ops that are slated to kick in April 1.
They are to shift the medicinal-marijuana program to a system of
regulated commercial growers who will supply authorized users; at the
same time, all current licences to possess or produce pot will expire.

Opponents - including Hutchinson and White Rock resident Joy Davies,
who later thanked council for hearing the appeal - argue the changes
will harm those who rely on the drug, by restricting its availability
and raising prices.

Representing the advocacy group, Canadian Medical Cannabis Partners,
Hutchinson outlined steps taken in recent years that show support for
a made-in-B.C. program. Those include municipalities' endorsement of
decentralization of the program in both 2010 and 2011.

Hutchinson noted the BC Liberal party promised in 2013 to continue to
consult on the matter, however, "municipalities and patients have not
been consulted to date."

White Rock has more than 50 registered medical-marijuana patients and
many unregistered, Hutchinson said. He predicted that number will be
well into the hundreds by 2020, when the total Canada-wide is expected
to hit 500,000.

"This issue is not going away," he said.

Hutchinson asked council to engage with local patients and advocates
on the issue, and to engage with the province.

Last month, during a public meeting on proposed zoning for commercial
operations, Davies asked White Rock officials to focus their efforts
instead on lobbying for provincial change. She, too, noted that those
who will be harmed by the new regulations have never been consulted.

Davies told Peace Arch News in an email Saturday that the appeal to
municipal councils is "a last attempt to get the provincial
government's attention."

"We are beside ourselves in trying to figure out what else to do,"
Davies writes. "We have been trying to ask government to 'bridge the
disconnect' between legitimate patients and organized crime, but
government is not listening."

On the suggestion of Mayor Wayne Baldwin last week, council voted to
receive the information and refer the request to staff. A report is
expected back in February.

This week, the Liberal Party of Canada in South Surrey-White
Rock-Cloverdale is set to host a town-hall meeting on the issues
surrounding legalization of marijuana.

Set for Thursday, 7:30 p.m., at Sunnyside Hall (1845 154 St.), it is
touted as an opportunity "to have a discussion in our community about
all that's involved with the regulated legalization of marijuana=85 to
have an informed and critical conversation about how to legalize,
regulate and tax the production, distribution and use of marijuana."
Doors open at 7 p.m. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D