Pubdate: Sat, 03 Oct 2015
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network
Contact:  http://www.calgaryherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Trevor Howell
Page: A3

COUNCIL EYES SOLUTIONS TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA SERVICES

Bylaw being drafted to provide regulations ahead of court decision

Calgary planners hope to draft bylaw amendments regulating medical
marijuana counselling services by the end of the year in advance of a
looming Supreme Court decision that could trigger similar businesses
to proliferate across the city.

Councillors Diane Colley-Urquhart and Gian-Carlo Carra introduced a
motion earlier this year asking administration to develop new rules to
prevent such businesses from clustering in neighbourhoods and to keep
them away from schools.

Calgary's existing business-use and land-use bylaws don't have a
category to regulate medical marijuana counselling outfits - a service
traditionally provided by doctors.

"We're asking council to give us the authorization to go ahead and
create this new definition, marijuana counselling," said city planner
Laurie Kimber, "and then find out what the appropriate land-use
districts are that it should be located in, and what the rules should
be for it,"

"We do need to introduce some clarity on this use and provide some
clear rules," Kimber said.

"Both for the people who want to open those businesses and the public
in terms of knowing what is and what is not allowed."

Medical marijuana dispensaries are illegal in Canada.

But federal rules allow patients with prescriptions to access
medicinal marijuana by mail through registered grow operations.

At least one company that helps patients navigate federal regulations
and connects them with licensed commercial growers has set up in Calgary.

The opening of 420 Clinic in Inglewood triggered complaints by the
area community association, which opposed the clinic's permit
applications over fears it could become a dispensary.

The federal government has moved to end its controversial Medical
Marijuana Access Regulations program that allowed patients, or a
designated grower, to legally produce a limited supply in their homes.

Medical professionals, patients, police and municipalities heavily
criticized the MMAR program over health, crime and product quality
concerns.

In 2013, Health Canada announced it would end the program and replace
it with a system allowing patients with a doctor's prescription to buy
marijuana through a federally approved commercial grower.

However, that plan was thwarted last year when a federal court judge
issued a temporary injunction until a constitutional challenge against
the new commercial program is heard.

Until that injunction is lifted, MMAR licences remain valid for the
grow operations.

Kimber expects the court to make a ruling by the end of the
year.

"If the MMAR is allowed to lapse and everyone has to buy commercially
then there's going to be all these people out there looking for help
on what kind of medical marijuana to purchase," said Kimber.

"That's why we want to get these rules in place."
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MAP posted-by: Matt