Editor, the Gazette: The September 2009 news letter from the City of Grand Forks states that the "Task Force on legal, local safe access to medical marijuana will be brought forward after November 2009." I, as well as a number of other Grand Forks residents, would like to know what in the world do the councillors of the City of Grand Forks believe they are going to accomplish? The problem with medical marijuana is that it belongs in the world of medicine. It also belongs with the federal, much more than provincial legislators and it definitely does not belong in the city council chambers for discussion. [continues 112 words]
Three weeks ago I wrote a column asking Coun. Joy Davies to come clean on the members of her "marijuana task force," which she says will be bringing recommendations to council in approximately four months time. In response, she told me "freedom of information" doesn't apply until this task force makes its recommendations. Some of these committee members are representing our city. Some of these members represent us in other ways. Some of them are working for public institutions. Whether you are for or against a public medical marijuana campaign in our community you have a right to know. [continues 240 words]
Well, Grand Forks, we've finally done it. We were over-using our right to free speech and so a local city councillor had to take another right away from us - freedom of information Coun. Joy Davies has created a brand new task force to study the issue of medical marijuana and, guess what, you and I are not allowed to know who is on it. Of course, at first I said, why would I care? Davies can meet with anyone she wants to meet with. [continues 315 words]
City Council voted to allow Coun. Joy Davies to proceed with a task force on medical marijuana, but not as an official city committee. The purpose of the task force is to find "solutions and options for local access to medical marijuana," said Davies. Davies refused to reveal the identities of the people on the task force. However, at an earlier meeting she released a list of the following invitees: two members of council; Member of Parliament Alex Atamanenko; Member of the Legislative Assembly John Slater; a doctor; a counsellor/psychologist; a medical user; fire chief; law enforcement officer or lawyer; senior's representative; hospital representative; Interior Health Authority (IHA) representative; representative of the Doukhobor community; and a master grower. Of this list, she said all were "on board" except Slater, who wishes to be kept informed of the task force's research. [continues 268 words]
Editor, The Gazette (Sylvia) Treptow (letter to the editor, Aug. 5) does not speak for everyone in this community. I commend Coun. (Joy) Davies for her compassion and caring for a segment of the community who are not helped and are sometimes made worse by prescribed medicines. This is an issue of importance to many and I applaud Coun. Davies for her honesty and her bravery in bringing this issue forward. Contentious changes have all had to start somewhere. Once again, I commend Coun. Davies for being strong and willing enough to put this out in the public. To the letter writers condemning her for her actions, compassion works both ways. Shirley Schuh, Grand Forks [end]
Editor, the Gazette: I have a difficulty understanding the passionate opposition to medical marijuana in this community. Do these people also feel the same passionate opposition to the two most destructive drugs in our society, tobacco and alcohol? These drugs kill thousands every year, cause the destruction of family units, and kill hundreds of people on our highways every year. What is their response to the fact that, according to the American Medical Association, prescription drugs kill, that's right kill dead, 200,000 people every year? [continues 59 words]
Editor, The Gazette Re: Medical Marijuana Apparently this issue has come before council again at its July 20 and 21 meeting. This time Coun. Joy Davies has managed to obtain approval to compile a specific slate of high profile individuals to serve on a medical marijuana committee, with this slate to be brought to council's meeting of Aug 17 at which time, provided a full slate is presented, the committee will be formed. In discussion of the matter later with Coun. (Chris) Moslin (the deciding vote), he stated he would not be willing to grant an extension to the Aug. 17 deadline. [continues 228 words]
Editor, The Gazette: Mayors and councils rise and fall on their record. This council's record seems to be in repeat mode on the same song "Ode to Joy." Your Worship I ask you to give leadership to this council and put this record to rest once and for all. Medical marijuana is not a debate that should over run all other city business. I would suggest that, if Coun. (Joy) Davies feels that strongly about legalizing marijuana, she run for a federal party where she can make changes to our laws. I would be more than happy to vote to send Joy Davies to Ottawa. Your Worship where is the economic development? I share past mayor (Neil) Krog's concerns regarding personal agendas. It's time for this council to get off the present path and on to one of moving Grand Forks forward. Or the next song they may hear is, "So long, it's been good to know you." Everett Baker, Grand Forks [end]
Editor, The Gazette: Grand Forks and the surrounding communities are facing serious times: funding shortfalls at our schools and hospitals, further reductions in social services, and an increasingly bleak private industry outlook. As elected officials, the responsibility of city councillors is to ensure that meaningful discussion and policies are developed to address these prominent issues. For the past several city council sessions one councillor and one issue have hijacked the agenda: Joy Davies and her personal medical marijuana crusade. It seems that Ms. Davies has decided to use her role as city councillor to advocate and promote her own personal agenda, resulting in a divided and distracted city council. [continues 97 words]
A four-hour council meeting ended in acrimony on Monday after council voted to allow Coun. Joy Davies to do preliminary work on a medical marijuana task force. Davies will be approaching a number of stakeholders such as health officials, elected representatives and police, and asking them if they will be willing to sit on a committee. If approved, the committee will study the feasibility of providing legal, local, safe access to medical marijuana. However, Davies has only been empowered to ask stakeholders if they would be willing to sit. [continues 156 words]
The discussion on medical marijuana continues to engage the community. Let's take a look at a commonly prescribed class of drugs. Statin drugs (drugs that improve blood cholesterol levels) counter indications include: headaches, nausea and fever, memory loss, liver problems, general weakness, hair loss, increased risk of heart attack and strokes, chest pain, swelling in the arms, abdominal pain, changes in eyesight, constipation, flue symptoms, joint pain, depression, sleep problems, sexual function problems, ringing in the ears, lower CoQ10 levels, etc. If I had to make a choice between most prescription drugs and marijuana, the choice would be simple. A change always begins at the grass roots and works it way up to the people with the real power. Let us not let misguided paranoia stand in the way of progressive thinking. David Janzen Grand Forks [end]
The issue of medical marijuana was back on the table at City Council last week, but support for it wasn't up for a vote. Instead, councillors challenged each other over the money spent on the June 18 medical marijuana forum hosted by Coun. Joy Davies under the auspices of the Economic Development Task Force (EDTF). "If I have been guilty of anything it is in being naive in my thinking that we would be able to manage a huge economic development task without any form of financial support," said Davies at the June 29 meeting. [continues 623 words]
Re: Medical marijuana If I am not mistaken, medical marijuana is regulated by the federal government. Should users and supporters of medical marijuana be unhappy with any aspect of the current legalized form of medical marijuana, they have the option of expressing their concerns to their duly elected federal member of Parliament and the federal governmental department responsible. Why are some councillors of Grand Forks insistent upon dragging the entire town into this controversial issue whether the local residents/taxpayers like it or not? A councillor informed me that the Economic Development Task Force intends to establish a medical marijuana grow op here in Grand Forks. Dissenting points of view will not be heard. What kinds of businesses will Grand Forks welcome to its community, supported by resident's tax dollars? We have already financially supported the panel discussion, and the grow op likely will be seeking seed money to get established. Will our policing and fire expenses increase? Where will it set up shop? [continues 206 words]
Current drug enforcement laws and a government system for the provision of medical marijuana are failing Canadians, residents heard from an expert panel last week. Rielle Capler, of the Centre for Addiction Research B.C., and Tony Smith, from Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, presented information about medical marijuana, regulations governing it, and problems within the current legal system to the crowd of over 40 people ranging in age from 20 through 80 at the Thursday, June 18 meeting. The forum was hosted by the city at a cost $1,100. Capler spoke about the use of medical marijuana in treatment of symptoms related to specific conditions, methods of use and possible harms before delving into the current regulatory process for legal access to medical marijuana and the development of compassion clubs as a response to gaps in the current system. [continues 360 words]
I have just returned from the public meeting on medical marijuana. It was both educational and enlightening. It is always interesting to learn from experts who know far more than any of us there. The mayor and three members of our city council were in attendance, but where was the other half of our elected representatives? If a city council vote is held on June 29, I would think these publicly paid employees would have attended to at the least educate themselves on such an important social issue. Whether the information presented would have influenced their vote is not the point; the point is they needed to be there to understand both sides of the issue. [continues 71 words]
Editor, The Gazette: First I would like to congratulate Joy Davies for being honest and forthcoming about her particular afflictions and how she has begun to lead a normal life. Next I would like to address the letter written to the Gazette titled: "Council Oversteps." Mr. Haagen, I feel for you. Have you any grasp of the history of this medicinal plant? Have you any knowledge of the affects of analgesics? How dare you judge someone. Are you afflicted with any diseases that cause excruciating pain? Do you struggle with narcotic painkillers in an effort to lead a productive existence? Do you have any idea what you are saying when you persecute someone for their personal choices? I hold out hope that people are beginning to wake up about these antiquated and draconian perceptions that have been drilled into our heads for decades. People make many choices in their lives. I for one believe that all people have that right. I think all you accomplished was making yourself look dated...very dated. B. Lawrence Grand Forks [end]
If we found a plant that would grow almost anywhere under varying climatic conditions, and that could satisfy basic food, shelter, clothing and fuel needs, one would think we would plant it everywhere possible and build industries around it. There is such a plant, but the only people in Canada who can grow it are those who have obtained permits from Health Canada. The reason is that it is called hemp, and hemp is thought to be synonymous with marijuana or cannabis, and we all know how many people feel about it. [continues 593 words]
Editor, The Gazette: The Gazette of May 13 on the front page exposed city council's dubious dabbling with a nefarious matter not within its mandate! Dope is dopey as are its users and apologists. "Medical marijuana" - a truly absurd oxymoron! What's next - "convalescence cocaine? " R. Haagen, Grand Forks [end]
Grand Forks Coun. Joy Davies has decided to take a lead role in municipal advocacy for the legalization of medical cannabis in the province.In order to see the change in federal and provincial laws, Davies is trying to get cities in the province of B.C. to support a motion for systemic change. To help educate the community about the use of marijuana as medicine, she is organizing a local education forum of experts in the field slated for June 18 in Grand Forks. [continues 904 words]
On May 12, the Minister of Veteran Affairs made a decision to pay for the legal medical cannabis needed by our veterans. The letter below requests the same for CPP recipients. On June 18 the City of Grand Forks is hosting an educational forum on the facts of medical cannabis. I encourage everyone to attend to have their questions answered. An Open Letter to Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Dear Honorable Minister: I am Joy Davies. I am a 61 year old woman living in Grand Forks, BC. I have been a recipient of CPP disability benefits since the year 2000. In the year 2002 my doctor signed papers for me to join the British Columbia Compassion Club where I could access a high quality supply of marijuana for medical use. As a result of my medical use of marijuana, I have been able to greatly improve my quality of life . [continues 549 words]
