Pubdate: Thu, 25 Sep 2014
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Kelly Sinoski
Page: A9

B.C. WANTS MEDICAL POT GROWERS IDENTIFIED

For the fourth time in five years, the Union of B. C. Municipalities
has been asked to petition Health Canada to reveal the location of
existing medical marijuana growing licences across the province.

The resolution, endorsed by the UBCM delegates Wednesday, drew
animated debate, with big cities - led by Abbotsford Mayor Bruce
Banman - arguing it was a matter of safety, and some smaller towns
saying the issue should remain private.

Banman argued municipalities have a right to know where medical pot is
being grown, saying that by not knowing the locations of the estimated
829 licences in Abbotsford or the 900 in nearby Mission has posed
problems for city, police and fire officials. This information would
be used to ensure electrical and building codes are up to scratch and
help in the investigation of issues related to home invasions, fires
and toxic mould.

Health Canada has refused since 2001 to give municipalities the
locations of medical marijuana grow licences - which allows users to
grow their own pot, have someone else grow it for them or access it
from a commercial facility - citing privacy concerns.

"This is not about keeping medicine from someone, or about someone
being able to grow a medicinal product in their own home," Banman said
before the vote at the UBCM's annual convention in Whistler. "This is
about safety."

Officials from some of B. C.' s smaller communities argued the
resolution is a moot point, particularly since the medical pot
licences were slated to expire this past spring under new Health
Canada regulations, which would prohibit licensed medical marijuana
users from growing the plants in their own homes or having others grow
it for them.

Those new regulations have since been challenged in court, which means
licensed patients can keep growing their own medical marijuana while
the issue goes to trial. Federal regulations now require all licensed
marijuana users to mail order their products from government
sanctioned, facilities.
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MAP posted-by: Matt