Pubdate: Mon, 19 Sep 2016
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.torontosun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Maryam Shah
Page: 8

HOME GROWN IDEAS

Activists want pot treated like beer, tobacco

When the feds finally roll out their plan to legalize marijuana,
advocates want to see home-grown weed treated like tobacco or alcohol.

The Toronto Sun spoke with several cannabis advocates who cited the
need for laws that allow people to grow pot at home - similar to those
permitting the cultivating of tobacco or the brewing of beer for
personal use.

A federal task force now examining the best way to regulate and
legalize recreational marijuana use is slated to complete its report
in 2017.

Task force members say they're trying to establish a strict system
that allows the production, distribution and sale of pot while keeping
the drug away from kids.

Recently, the federal government revamped rules to allow patients to
grow limited quantities of cannabis for medical purposes at home, or
designate someone else to grow it for them, using seeds from licensed
producers.

Health Canada has said these changes "should not be interpreted as
being the longer-term plan for the regulation of access to cannabis
for medical purposes."

*Dana Larsen, a long-time Vancouver cannabis reform advocate, gave
away thousands of marijuana seeds throughout Canada during the
Overgrow Campaign this summer "to normalize cannabis cultivation."
It's a move that resulted in Calgary police charging him with
trafficking cannabis seeds.

"Ultimately, I think everybody should be able to grow as much cannabis
as they want, like any other plant," he said. "But to begin with, it
would be nice to see at least if medical users can grow what they
need, and a non-medical user can grow six plants or 12 plants or some
arbitrary number."

*Brandy Zurborg, co-owner of Queens of Cannabis in Toronto, cites
home-brew laws as a model that should be copied.

"You can brew your own beer in your house, or make your own wine," she
said, calling it a process that's "a lot more dangerous and risky."

She anticipates more people will want to grow cannabis at home after
legalization.

*John Fowler, president and CEO of licensed producer Supreme
Pharmaceuticals, said people who want to grow recreational pot safely
"should be able to do so." But, he adds, it's a "little early" to say
what regulating home-grown cannabis should look like.

"All I hope ... is that the government is taking a data-driven
approach and has every confidence that we're going to have a really
good well-thought-out and functional marijuana industry for both
recreational and medical users in a matter of months or years."

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[sidebar]

THE RULES

In Ontario, drinkers can brew their own beer or make their own wine at
home "as long as it is only for your personal consumption or to be
given away free of charge," according to the Alcohol and Gaming
Commission of Ontario.

In Oregon, where pot was legalized in July 2015, pot users can grow up
to four plants "per residence, regardless of how many people live in
the residence," according to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission's
website.

In Colorado, where marijuana legalization began in 2012, weed smokers
can grow up to six plants per adult over the age 21 for personal use,
according to the state government's website. Cultivation must take
place indoors, where plants have to be kept in a locked area, the
website says. Some counties and municipalities within the state have
stricter laws.
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MAP posted-by: Matt