Pubdate: Wed, 05 Mar 2014
Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Abbotsford News
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/BkAJKrUD
Website: http://www.abbynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155
Author: Alex Butler

NEW LAWS WORRY MEDICAL POT USERS

The medicine that Valley resident Bob Davidson takes for multiple 
sclerosis treats all of his symptoms, has allowed him to wean himself 
off morphine and get out of his wheelchair and start walking again.

But that medication may soon become unaffordable, putting his most 
effective treatment - marijuana - out of reach.

Federal changes to the medical marijuana system will go into effect 
on April 1, switching from the current personal at-home production 
licences to large-scale and highly regulated commercial grow-ops that 
will deliver the product by mail.

The federal government states that the goals of the current system 
have been "seriously compromised" by its rapid expansion, increasing 
from fewer than 100 licences in Canada in 2001, to more than 37,000 
in January 2014.

As the rules change, officials from municipalities, police forces and 
fire services across the country have concerns whether currently 
operating legal grows will shut down - and if so, whether the homes 
containing them will be properly remediated for issues such as fire 
hazards and mould.

Federal oversight of the program makes it difficult for local 
authorities to deal with potential abuse of the system at the 
municipal level - part of the reasoning for the new regulations. 
Health Canada will not release the locations of the 
soon-to-be-illegal home grow-ops, due to patient privacy concerns. 
Consequently, the city and police can only estimate the number of 
legal grows in Abbotsford and Mission.

The News filed an Access to Information Act request, asking for that 
figure. Health Canada responded that there are 761 licences in 
Abbotsford for authorization to possess marijuana, with 602 
personal-use production permits and 85 designated-person production 
licences. District of Mission officials predict that community has 
700 to 800 home grows.

But for law-abiding medical pot users, such as Davidson, certain 
changes - such as only allowing dried marijuana product, and the 
potential for a large price increase - create a concern for how 
accessible treatment will be.

Davidson said he can produce a gram of marijuana for about a dollar, 
and many people have licences allowing 10 grams a day. He said he has 
heard prices, with delivery charges, going up to $16 a gram. Canada's 
first licensed producer, CannaMed, has advertised at $9 to $12 per gram.

"If I can't afford cannabis therapy, I fear going back on a whole 
list of medications to control this disease. Those medications have 
side effects that are unbelievable," said Davidson.

As for official concerns, Davidson abides by all the laws in his 
legal marijuana grow-op. He has a multi-breaker system with a heat 
shut-off system in case of electrical issues - installed by a 
certified electrician. There are no bypasses, he pays for his 
electricity, and the safety of his home and himself is paramount.

He doesn't use hydroponics to grow, which create a lot of moisture 
and the potential for mould. He grows his marijuana in organic 
shredded coconut husks and runs an industrial dehumidifier to keep 
moisture low. He said his home will not require any remediation - 
except the dismantling of his operation which he spent thousands of 
dollars to build.

Jenn, an Abbotsford resident who didn't want her last name used, 
shares Davidson's concerns and also stands to lose the thousands of 
dollars she put into creating a safe legal grow. She wants to 
continue to grow her own plants, as the particular strain she grows 
treats her symptoms and keeps her from having to use pharmaceuticals.

"I know what's in (my plants) and I know what it does."

Those who are currently growing medical marijuana are expected to 
dispose of their plants and product when the rules switch over in April 2014.

But the switch to dried marijuana use only, which Health Canada has 
indicated should be smoked, creates another concern for those who 
don't want the negative effects of smoking. Davidson said many use 
other methods of taking their medicine, including juicing raw 
marijuana leaves, which provides the health benefits without the high.

Davidson said it's a misconception that medical users are "all 
stoners," adding that he uses marijuana because he doesn't want to 
use morphine. "If I wanted to get high, I would take a syringe ... of 
morphine and inject it."

But from a policing perspective, Abbotsford Police Const. Ian 
MacDonald said that declaring as illegal all grow-ops in residential 
neighbourhoods, and knowing where medical marijuana is grown, will 
increase safety.

Because police currently don't know where legal grows are, when they 
receive information about a potential grow-op, they begin to 
investigate. Only when they are prepared to issue a warrant will 
Heath Canada confirm whether the grow is legal.

"It's probably about 75 per cent of our investigations that we later 
learn are legal grows," said MacDonald, adding that the new rules 
will amount to a "huge amount" of police time saved.

He said it will remain to be seen whether there are issues in 
compliance with the new laws.

Abbotsford's fire chief Don Beer has said that moving marijuana 
production out of homes is a step in the right direction, as fire 
services across Canada have sounded the alarm about fire and safety 
risks associated with growing marijuana in homes.

Abbotsford and Mission intend to ban the new commercial grow-ops, 
meaning all marijuana production would be prohibited in the 
communities, although Mission will review commercial applications on 
a case-by-case basis.

Abbotsford Mayor Bruce Banman has been critical of Health Canada's 
failure to ensure it will assist municipalities with the consequences 
of the old system and potential fallout from the switchover. Banman 
said previously he has "broken faith" in Health Canada and remains 
skeptical of the new program.

A representative from Health Canada said the agency expects 
participants to comply with all bylaws and remediation requirements, 
and will be issuing reminders to that effect.

To protect the interests of the patients who are currently using 
medical marijuana, Abbotsford lawyer John Conroy will be in court on 
March 18 alleging the new laws violate the constitutional rights of 
patients to produce their own medicine. On behalf of users across 
Canada, he is seeking an interim exemption for current growers when 
the new laws go into place, while continuing to seek a permanent 
exemption for legal grows.

"There is such a myth out there that this is just about people 
getting high to feel good, instead of understanding how serious this 
is for a number of them," said Conroy.

For Davidson, as the deadline grows closer, he is hoping the legal 
action will stop him from having to get rid of his marijuana on April 
1. He said with the new rules, all users stand to lose by being 
priced out of their medication.

"These are just a lot of very sick people, looking to medicate 
peacefully without bothering anybody."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom