Pubdate: Wed, 24 Jun 2015
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Geordon Omand
Page: A8

ALLOW EDIBLE POT SALES, SAYS GROUP

Ban bad for patients, B.C. Civil Liberties Association asserts

A British Columbia civil rights group is asking the City of Vancouver
to reconsider its plan to ban dispensaries from selling edible forms
of medical marijuana.

The request comes as the city council is set to vote on new zoning
regulations for medical marijuana shops.

The B.C. Civil Liberties Association said it recognized the logistical
challenges to regulation but that an outright ban on items such as
cookies and brownies would just transfer the problem to patients.

"This is not comparable to other kinds of medication," said Micheal
Vonn, the organization's policy director.

"It's one thing to say we as government aren't really sure what kind
of formulations are the safest. It is incredibly problematic to say to
a patient: ' Here, go mix this up in your kitchen, like some kind of
alchemist."'

Vancouver is poised to pass precedent-setting policies that would
require dispensaries to pay a $30,000 licensing fee and stay a minimum
distance from schools and other pot shops.

The proposed regulations would allow for the sale of products such as
dried marijuana and pot oil, which the city says patients could use to
make their own edibles.

On Monday night, Vancouver councillors wrapped up four days of public
hearings on amendments to licensing, zoning and development bylaws.
More than 180 people were registered to speak.

Mayor Gregor Robertson closed the hearings by thanking residents for
their input and saying councillors would debate and decide on the
issue today.

The sale of over-the-counter marijuana in any form remains illegal,
but the city said a proliferation of dispensaries over the last three
years, from fewer than 20 to 94, led to the need for regulation.

City manager Penny Ballem said earlier this month that staff wanted to
ban the sale of items such as baked goods and candies because of the
risk that they would appeal to children.

A news release from the city referenced evidence from U.S.based
research that the availability of these products has led to increased
cases of kids being poisoned.

But stringent packaging and labelling requirements, such as those
introduced in Colorado, stand to mitigate that risk, Vonn said.

Last week's unanimous decision from the Supreme Court of Canada gave
medical marijuana users the right to both possess and consume cannabis
derivatives, including edibles and extracts.

"The case confirmed that Health Canada cannot force you to smoke your
medication," Vonn said.

Health Minister Rona Ambrose said she was outraged after hearing about
the decision, adding that marijuana has never faced a regulatory
approval process through Health Canada.

Federal regulations had previously stipulated that authorized users of
physician-prescribed cannabis could only consume dried marijuana.
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