Pubdate: Wed, 02 Apr 2014
Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Nanaimo Daily News
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608
Author: Spencer Anderson

CITY'S LICENSED POT GROWERS WON'T BE SHUT DOWN - YET

Nanaimo residents with licences to grow their own medical marijuana
will be able to continue to do so for the immediate future, despite a
changeover to new Health Canada regulations yesterday.

Health Canada had announced that users of medical marijuana would no
longer be able to access the drug through person licences to grow the
substance, and would instead have to access it through licensed
commercial growers under the new Marihuana for Medical Purposes
Regulations. Legal marijuana users were told to destroy all marijuana
in their possession by March 31.

However, a Federal Court judge issued an injunction last month
allowing medical marijuana growers with personal production licences
to continue until a separate trial could be resolved.

Health Canada issued an updated statement this week.

"As a result of ongoing litigation and uncertainty arising from court
decisions, Health Canada will treat the following Authorizations to
Possess, Personal-Use Production Licences, and Designated-Person
Production Licences as extending beyond March 31, 2014 until a
decision. .. is rendered."

The department said the interim injunction will apply to people with
valid ATP licences as of March 21, 2014 and personal use of designated
person production licenses in effect as of Sept. 30, 2013, along with
a valid ATP licence.

Local medical marijuana advocate Richard Payne said the court decision
is a promising sign for those fighting to legalize production of the
substance. He said the governing Conservatives are facing an uphill
battle.

"I think they really wanted to take a hard line. .. but the tide is
turning," he said. "People's perception of marijuana is starting to
change." He pointed recent decisions by Colorado and Washington State
to legalize marijuana as an example of shifting attitudes.

Payne said he believes the recent judicial setback for the new
regulations will lead to a more "lax" approach to legislation.

However, commercial, large-scale growers in Canada are preparing to
enter into the medical marijuana business in Canada. A Nanaimo
production facility called Tilray has set up shop near Duke Point and
is awaiting approval of its production licence from Health Canada. 
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