Pubdate: Fri, 06 May 2016
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2016 The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Dirk Meissner
Page: S2

VICTORIA VOTES TO ALLOW SELLING EDIBLES

Spurred Largely by Input From Senior Citizens, Council Takes 
Different Approach Than Vancouver to Consumable Pot Products

Senior citizens in Victoria support council's push to adopt a bylaw 
that allows edible pot products in medical marijuana dispensaries, 
despite health and safety concerns raised by the province's medical 
health officer, Mayor Lisa Helps says.

Victoria's council voted in favour of preparing a medical marijuana 
business bylaw Thursday that permits the sale of edible pot products, 
keeps marijuana businesses 200 metres apart from each other and 
prohibits any forms of advertising.

The bylaw will also keep the dispensaries 200 metres away from 
schools and licensed daycares.

Ms. Helps and other council members said the many seniors who spoke 
at public meetings in favour of edible pot sales persuaded them to 
buck Vancouver's pot law, which prohibits the sale of edible products 
such as brownies and cookies.

"Our staff and council were compelled," Ms. Helps said. "We heard 
loud and clear from many people who came to the town hall we held, 
particularly from seniors, and particularly from senior women, that 
they have chronic pain and they don't want to smoke marijuana. They 
want access to edibles."

B.C. health officer Perry Kendall urged Victoria council in a letter 
on Monday to reconsider the plan to permit edible marijuana sales.

"While I understand that this position was supported by a majority of 
those in the community who were consulted - on the basis that they 
felt the benefits would outweigh the harms - such a conclusion is not 
based on the evidence," Dr. Kendall said in the letter.

He included a letter sent to Vancouver's city manager that supported 
a ban on edible marijuana products because they're attractive to 
children and risk poisoning both children and adults.

Ms. Helps said it's not her job to regulate the quality and safety of 
the marijuana brownies sold at the city's 35 medical pot dispensaries.

Council voted to turn over the issue of monitoring the health and 
safety of the edible products to provincial health officials.

"Our position, my position is that it is not the city's 
responsibility to regulate food products," Ms. Helps said. "The city 
doesn't regulate the contents of the spicy nut triangle that I get at 
Habit Coffee. That's not our jurisdiction."

Ms. Helps said she recognizes there may be issues with edible 
marijuana products, but it's up to provincial officials to monitor 
the products.

"This is clearly in your domain, and you clearly have some concerns 
and those concerns are legitimate, so over to you," she said.

Ms. Helps said she expects council to vote on its Medical 
Marijuana-Related Businesses bylaw next month.

The federal Liberal government has said it plans to introduce 
legislation next year that legalizes marijuana in Canada.

Ms. Helps said Victoria, like Vancouver, is being forced to regulate 
marijuana businesses without a federal law in place.

"We are operating in a vacuum," she said.

Victoria has written to the federal government for guidance but has 
yet to receive a response, Ms. Helps said.

Vancouver's medical marijuana bylaw bans the sale of edible marijuana 
products and ensures dispensaries are located 300 metres away from 
schools and each other.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom