Pubdate: Fri, 08 Oct 2010 Source: Prince George Free Press (CN BC) Copyright: 2010 BC Newspaper Group Contact: http://www.pgfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2135 MEDICAL MARIJUANA DEBATED It's too difficult for patients to get medical marijuana, so regulation of the issue should be transferred from the federal to the provincial government, UBCM delegates voted Friday. The Victoria motion passed, with advocates suggesting the province could then distribute medical marijuana via pharmacies and community dispensaries, potentially reducing the number of approved patients growing their own pot. Delegates also debated a call from Merritt for tighter enforcement of licensed medical marijuana growers to ensure they meet local regulations and don't pose similar safety risks to illegal grow-ops. That resolution was referred back for further study after Kootenay delegates argued it could violate the privacy rights of medical pot users. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D