Pubdate: Wed, 27 May 2009
Source: Grand Forks Gazette (CN BC)
Page: 4
Copyright: 2009 Sterling Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/525
Note: The newspaper does not have an active website.
Author: Mona Mattei
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada)

COUNCIL SHOULD SUPPORT PATIENTS

Grand Forks city council said that they do not feel it is the 
responsibility of municipal governments to push for change in the 
laws governing medical marijuana in Canada and our province on May 11.

Municipal counsellors represent their community.That community 
includes people of all ages, races, and abilities. In the past local 
councils have pushed the province to take action on many social and 
health issues by bringing forward resolutions to the Union of B.C. 
Municipalities (UBCM) convention. Just last year our local council 
took initiatives forward on youth centres, and drug houses among 
others. Resolutions brought to the UBCM require a response from the 
province, thereby, at the very least, drawing attention to issues 
facing the citizens of B.C.

So why was the proposed resolution by Coun. Joy Davies not supported? 
It is a resolution that allows chronically or critically ill citizens 
access to an optional medication that doctors could prescribe and 
give those same people legal access to the drug. If Davies had 
proposed that the council support sick people to access penicillin, 
would there have ever been  a discussion?

What city council was most likely sensitive to was the topic of 
marijuana. In a community where a part of the local economy is 
reliant on the growing and sale of this currently illegal  substance, 
the councillors were probably reluctant to encourage the perceived 
negative attention that could result if Davies was successful in 
supporting the fight for change.

Comments were also made about the drug being a "gateway" to harder 
drugs.If marijuana were available under prescription, it would no 
more be a gateway than morphine. Davies and other advocates are not 
suggesting  freely available drugs - they are looking for legitimate 
options for people in pain. Given a life of chronic pain, would you 
choose morphine or, if it was available, cannabis? Which does less 
harm in the long-term?

In a time when the enforcement of drug laws are costing our society 
millions annually, is it not time to consider alternatives? If our 
council members, as our representatives, don't feel it is their 
fight, then whose is it?
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom