Pubdate: Wed, 29 Jan 2014
Source: Petrolia Topic (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 The Petrolia Topic
Contact: http://www.petroliatopic.com/letters
Website: http://www.petroliatopic.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5058
Author: Tyler Kula

MP SUPPORTS MARIJUANA RULE CHANGES TYLER

Pat Davidson says her office has recently been trying to help a 
number of residents worried about medical marijuana program changes 
this spring.

The Sarnia-Lambton MP was highlighting some of the federal 
government's accomplishments and plans at a Rotary Club of Sarnia 
luncheon Monday.

"We have been working with several residents on issues and we'll 
continue to do that with the medical marijuana," Davidson said after 
her address.

"There's a whole litany of concerns and it depends on the individual 
what some of the concerns are. Cost is one of them for sure."

Petrolia resident Jeff Johnston recently went public with concerns 
about changes taking effect April 1 that will render his current 
licence to grow medical marijuana invalid.

Instead, the federal government is replacing its own distribution 
system, personal-use and designated-person growing licences, with 
licenced producers.

Cost per gram is expected to rise and, for Johnston, who supports his 
family with about $1,700 a month through the Ontario Disability 
Support Program and odd jobs, it may be too much to bear.

He hasn't personally contacted Davidson, he said.

System changes were brought on after an RCMP report last year that 
said criminal groups are using the medical marijuana system to obtain 
and distribute the drug.

Davidson said those changes are being made for good reasons.

"Certainly the government is very concerned about safety in the 
communities, they're very concerned about help for victims, and they 
certainly are doing what they can to make our communities safe."

Many who've contacted her office have found answers, she said.

"I think, once the situations are fully examined, sometimes things 
aren't quite as dire as they appear to begin with," she said.

The economy was the focus of Davidson's speech.

"The fact is that we are doing a lot better than a lot of our other 
G7 counterparts," she said.

But the Canadian economy is still fragile, she said, noting the 
government doesn't plan to raise taxes this year.

"This is not the time to do it," she said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom