Pubdate: Mon, 21 Mar 2016
Source: Toronto 24hours (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 Canoe Inc.
Contact:  http://24hrs.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4068
Author: Sarah Hanlon
Page: 8

PREMIER WYNNE'S WORD GOES TO POT

"Herb is the healing of a nation." - Bob Marley

Well, that didn't take long. Yep, just on schedule, the Ontario
Liberals are going back on their word when it comes to their marijuana
policy.

It was only months ago medical cannabis users were relieved to hear
their medication would not be lumped into the same province-wide ban
that was happening to e-cigarettes at the time. People, who had been
medicating publicly for years, were thrilled with the news. Until that
all went up in smoke.

Let's rewind: the government acknowledged the exemption on publicly
smoking and vaping cannabis last November but something shady happened.

Sensationalists who got their hands on the story spun it a thousand
dramatic ways. Reporters ran to the streets to ask people how they
felt about people smoking weed in schools, churches and in the public
court. Technically, for years, these things have been legal to
participate in - with a proper medical licence. And yet, we haven't
heard of someone lighting up a spliff during a Sunday morning mass or
during an exam.

Or as Wynne suggested recently, "I think I would have a problem with
[someone vaping marijuana next to me at movie theatre]..." Some movie
theatres sell alcohol, and if you've ever tried to listen to a movie
when people have been drinking, you know that's even more bothersome
than the smell of vaping.

In reality, cannabis users usually do the sensible and neighbourly
thing by smoking marijuana in the most civil of ways so we can still
continue to do so. We step outside for a joint. We vaporize away from
the crowd. We walk by quickly when you give us that:
"what's-that-smell?" face. We hang out at vapour lounges and cafes in
marijuana-friendly neighbourhoods. We have built communities and
places for us to medicate away from mainstream stigmas. Believe us
when we say: we don't wanna smoke around judgmental eyes, either.

But now, with the help of such dramatics, Ontario Premier Kathleen
Wynne is trying to take our right to community away from us. Their
plan this summer is to include "e-substances," meaning medical
cannabis and extracts to Bill 45, which bans smoking in public places
- - including common outdoor areas. This is wrong and a massive blunder
on the part of Wynne's increasingly 'Big Brother' mentality. Is
Ontario becoming a nanny state? It sure looks like it. And all of us
should worry - not just marijuana users. If their main concern is the
health of the people, like they claim, then why are they ignoring the
health of medical cannabis users?

For many Canadians, using marijuana means preventing an oncoming
seizure or a panic attack, killing debilitating nerve pain, or
reducing nausea in order to eat or get through an errand ... or the
day! Just like an Epi or insulin pen, medical cannabis is often needed
immediately. So a ban of medical cannabis in public means subjecting
medical users to more pain - or even worse. The courts have already
ruled in favour of medical marijuana users bending the laws for the
sake of access and health.

If the government thinks that these people will go away and isolate
themselves now, while we are moving toward legalization, they're sadly
mistaken.

And it furthermore proves how out of touch Wynne is with the
public.

According to a recent Nanos Research poll, a vocal majority of Canucks
agree with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's pledge to legalize marijuana.

Moreover, the poll found that Canadians prefer cannabis be sold at
dispensaries or pharmacies - not the LCBO like Wynne suggested. It's
time the people speak out ... and demand real change.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt