Pubdate: Wed, 24 Jun 2015
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html
Website: http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Geordon Omand
Page: 8

LET THEM EAT POT, CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP SAYS

A B.C. 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 the 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 Michael 
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 Wednesday.

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 by 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 was outraged after hearing about the 
decision, saying that marijuana has never faced a regulatory approval 
process through Health Canada.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom