Pubdate: Sat, 04 Nov 2017
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2017 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/send_a_letter
Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Authors: Michelle McQuigge and Sadiah Rahman
Page: A22

POT ACTIVISTS SHIFT FOCUS AS LEGALIZATION LOOMS

Cannabis activists say they still have work to do after legislation
takes effect

CANNABIS activists say that while they've succeeded in helping to push
for marijuana legalization across the country, their work is far from
over.

The federal government has committed to making recreational cannabis
legal by July 1, 2018, but has tasked provincial governments with
establishing their own business and regulatory models that will make
the new legislation a reality.

Activists say they need only look at the early versions of provincial
plans to find targets for future campaigns.

They say provinces such as Ontario, which plans to levy fines of up to
$1 million on businesses that illegally sell recreational weed, are
wrong to try and monopolize marijuanasales and should allow storefront
dispensaries to operate.

Others say they plan to crusade for medical marijuana users, who they
feel are being left behind as legalization moves ahead.

Still more say their efforts will involve pushing for relaxed
consumption rules, such as marijuana licences for restaurants and
other public spaces.

While nearly all see the proposed

Clegislative frameworks as flawed, they do believe legalization will
allow a previously marginalized group a more prominent place in the
conversation around cannabis use. Lisa Campbell of the Ontario
Cannabis Consumer Retail Alliance said marijuana activists were once
shunned for the cause they championed and were even actively excluded
from governmental consultation processes.

Once recreational cannabis is legal, however, she said she and others
will push to work directly with government to shape more effective
policies on everything from dispensaries to the availability of edible
products.

"I think we're seeing a lot of potential for engaging policy-makers so
that whatever the next government is in Ontario, they have some sound,
evidencebased policy to move forward."

Campbell said she and others have already teamed up with official
lobbyist organizations to ensure they have a seat at the table the
next time policy matters come up for discussion.

For Abi Roach, owner of a cannabis lounge in Toronto, the fight will
centre on an effort to create safe public spaces for cannabis
consumption.

Ontario's current proposals ban the use of recreational marijuana in
public spaces or workplaces, shutting the door on the possibility of
licensing establishments to offer cannabis on the premises.

Roach takes exception to the approach, fearing it will put cannabis
users at risk. Lounges and other such businesses can educate customers
on safe cannabis use and steer them toward safer consumption
alternatives such as using vapourizers, she said.

Opportunities to educate customers are plentiful, she said, since
lounges typically don't sell cannabis and focus instead on helping
customers enjoy the product in comfort and safety.

She said she, and like-minded advocates, will be pushing the
harm-reduction aspects of their cause once cannabis is legalized. For
now, though, she said she sees her day job running the Hotbox Cafe as
the best form of advocacy she can perform.

"The biggest activism that I do is opening the door to my shop every
morning and serving my first customer," she said.

Medical marijuana use will be the focus for Toronto-based advocate
Tania Cyalume, who feels emerging legislation has overlooked their
needs.

She said storefront dispensaries staffed by knowledgeable employees
are essential for medical patients, adding a government-controlled
cannabis retailer, like the ones proposed for Ontario and New
Brunswick, won't be able to address the clientele's more complex needs.

Cyalume said she plans to push for looser regulations on dispensaries,
which the Ontario government has "officially put on notice," but said
she also hopes to speak up for cannabis users who often can't advocate
for themselves.

"It's really hard for sick people, for example with anxiety or
agorophobia, they're not going to come and advocate for their own
use," she said.

"I feel they're misrepresented in terms of advocacy."

Activism efforts may be confined to the grassroots level in the early
days of legalization, but Vancouver-based advocate Dana Larsen said he
foresees more public efforts in the years ahead as people adjust to
the new regulations and stake out new battlegrounds.

"By 2019, I expect that there will be several cases in the court
trying to change the cannabis laws," he said.

Court proceedings will only be one piece of the puzzle, he said,
adding those bent on change can also lobby governments, stage civil
disruptions or run for public office themselves.
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