Pubdate: Fri, 17 Sep 2010
Source: Maple Ridge News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2010 Maple Ridge News
Contact:  http://www.mapleridgenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1328
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n743/a06.html
Author: Carl Anderson

WHAT ABOUT BAN ON VEGETABLE GARDENING?

Editor, The News:

Re: Pitt medical growop bylaw in place (The News, Sept. 10)

Back in July, I sent Pitt Meadows city council a letter, imploring
members to re-consider their bylaw against medical marijuana grows. In
that letter, I told them that if they continued down the path of
discrimination they were on, I would exercise every financial and
legal resource available to me to fight against their callous
disregard for the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

What they have done is shamefully unconstitutional and will
undoubtedly be overturned in due course at the expense of the taxpayers.

The laws of Canada (MMAR section 34(1)) plainly state that a "holder
of a designated-person production licence is authorized, in accordance
with the licence, to produce marijuana for the medical purpose of the
person who applied for the licence."

That means what they are doing is no more illegal than growing
tomatoes and cucumbers.

Would the residents of Pitt Meadows support a ban on urban vegetable
gardening?

Furthermore, section 15(1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and
Freedoms states that all individuals are "equal before and under the
law and have the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of
the law without discrimination."

With a lawyer on council, it irks me to think that this was not
discussed before the passing of this grossly unconstitutional and
discriminatory bylaw.

Fortunately, the laws of Canada protect us from such tyranny. See you
in court.

Carl Anderson

Kamloops
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MAP posted-by: Matt