Pubdate: Tue, 18 Mar 2014
Source: Record, The (Kitchener, CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.therecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225
Author: Jim Bronskill
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

DESTROY YOUR POT, LICENSED GROWERS TOLD

Ottawa Will Tell Police If It Thinks Patients Are Disobeying New Rules

OTTAWA - Health Canada says it will tell police if medical marijuana 
users fail to declare they have disposed of their homegrown stashes - 
a requirement of strict new federal rules.

The department says it will share relevant information - including 
the names and addresses of those who flout the new system - with 
police. Under the existing federal program, thousands of people have 
licences to cultivate marijuana for personal use to help ease painful symptoms.

Beginning April 1, the government plans to allow only select 
commercial producers to grow marijuana under "secure and sanitary 
conditions" for postal distribution to medically approved patients.

It means those who now possess or grow marijuana under the old rules 
must destroy and dispose of plants, seeds and dried pot by March 31. 
The Health Department recommends breaking up plant material, blending 
the marijuana with water, mixing it with cat litter to mask the 
pungent odour, and putting it all out in the trash. It is sending 
letters to those enrolled under the old rules to say they must submit 
a signed form by April 30 confirming they have stopped growing pot. 
However, it will stop short of providing municipalities with a list 
of marijuana production sites that must shut down, saying such 
information is protected by federal privacy law.

Today several British Columbia residents will ask the Federal Court 
of Canada for an injunction that would allow them to continue 
producing their own pot or have a specially designated person do so 
for them. They argue the planned new system would deny them a safe, 
affordable supply of the strain of marijuana that meets their medical 
needs. They also contend that denying people the right to produce 
their own pot would violate their Charter of Rights guarantee of 
"security of the person."

The number of people authorized to possess - and often grow - 
marijuana under the federal program has risen to 37,000 this year 
from fewer than 100 in 2001. In a court document defending changes to 
the program, the government says growing marijuana at home poses 
hazards including mould, fire, toxic chemicals and the threat of home 
invasion by criminals.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom