Pubdate: Tue, 24 Feb 2015
Source: Parksville Qualicum Beach News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Black Press
Contact:  http://www.pqbnews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1361
Author: Candace Wu

POT PRODUCTS ON THE SHELVES

Remains to Be Seen If This Move Will Force the RCMP to Intervene

A compassion club in downtown Parksville is now distributing 
pot-based products.

Though Pheonix Pain Management Society said it won't distribute 
medical marijuana from its Parksville site until the city is on 
board, managing director Akil Pessoa stocked the shelves Friday with 
cannabinoid (CBD) products. He said they will be available in-store this week.

"While the mayor (Marc Lefebvre) is still getting his head around 
THC, rather than wait, we're just going to move forward," said Pessoa.

He explains there are two main active ingredients in pot - THC and 
CBD. According to Pessoa, THC makes you feel "stoned" while 
cannabinoids don't have the same psychoactive effect, therefore 
offering only the medical effects of medical marijuana. He said that 
makes it an appealing treatment option for medical purposes.

"The argument (about marijuana) is largely around THC and its 
psychoactive effects so if we remove that there's no argument," he said.

Asked if cannabinoids are illegal, Pessoa said "they shouldn't be, 
I've never seen a law against it."

The Government of Canada lists "cannabis, its preparations (and) 
derivatives" including cannabis, cannabidiol and cannabinol as 
Schedule II drugs.

Parksville's chief of police Brian Hunter confirmed earlier this 
month "there is absolutely no mechanism in law in Canada, or 
anywhere, for (dispensaries/compassion clubs) to exist."

Parksville Mayor Marc Lefebvre has repeatedly told The NEWS that he 
will follow direction from police in regards to Pheonix deeming the 
society "completely illegal."

Pessoa and a handful of pot activists have held at least two protests 
at city hall demanding Lefebvre direct the local RCMP to shift police 
resources and priorities away from the society.

At the most recent Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce 
dinner, Hunter said he intends to host a meeting at the end of this 
month with mayors and area directors to see where they want policing 
efforts prioritized.

Pessoa said the store will offer CBD tinctures, salves, creams and 
even eye drops.

"We believe in progressing with the community at a rate of change 
they can be comfortable with ... there's no argument over CBD therapy 
and there's no high associated with it so there shouldn't be an 
issue," he said. "While the issue of THC is in question, we still 
want to serve medicine to people."

Pheonix Pain Management Society is located at 120 Middleton Avenue in 
Parksville.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom