Pubdate: Thu, 02 Oct 2014
Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Vancouver 24 hrs.
Contact: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/letters
Website: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837
Author: Ada Slivinski
Page: 4

E-CIGS BAN COULD IMPACT LOCAL POT SMOKERS, SAY ADVOCATES

Questions about how proposed bylaw amendments targeting e-cigarettes
will impact marijuana users delayed a Vancouver City Council vote on
the topic - with politicians still debating at press time Wednesday
night.

In Wednesday's planning, transportation and environment meeting,
members of council heard from the public on recommended bylaw
amendments that would prohibit smoking or "vapourizing" e-cigarettes
in places where smoking tobacco cigarettes is disallowed, as well as
prohibiting sale to minors, and display and advertising.

Dana Larsen, marijuana advocate and director of SensibleBC, spoke at
the meeting, saying the bylaw amendments as they are currently worded
inadvertently apply to medical marijuana as well, thus would impact "a
patient who's walking down the street and feel they might be having an
epileptic seizure."

Larsen said this bylaw shouldn't stop people from using marijuana and
urged council to consider harm reduction in their approach - as the
city does with other drugs like "cocaine and crack."

Pot activist Neil Magnuson, who also spoke at the meeting, said he
feels the amendments discriminate against those who use and sell
medical marijuana as well as vapour lounge operators.

"We're under siege," he said. "We don't shut down liquor stores or
pharmacies for re-selling to youth," referring to several recent raids
of illegal marijuana dispensaries by the Vancouver Police Department.

Currently, e-cigarettes are not governed by the health bylaw that
prohibits smoking in public places and within six metres of doors or
windows. Health officials from Vancouver Coastal Health spoke at
Tuesday's meeting, recommending the restrictions be implemented as any
evidence of e-cigarettes being a quitting aid is anecdotal and many
studies point to harmful chemicals and carcinogens in the "e-juice."
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MAP posted-by: Matt