Pubdate: Wed, 01 Aug 2012
Source: Tri-City News (Port Coquitlam, CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Tri-City News
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/3X3xlf9Y
Website: http://www.tricitynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1239

POT PROBLEMS

Coquitlam is trying to deal with the commercial medical marijuana 
industry head on while federal regulations are in a state of flux.

While most Canadians wouldn't stand in the way of marijuana use for 
the purpose of relieving pain and other chronic health problems, it's 
left to cities to deal with policing issues and other problems that 
might arise with these businesses.

The federal government currently permits designated third-party 
growers and allows people to grow their own for medical purposes, and 
Coquitlam is doing its best to deal with this situation with a new 
bylaw restricting the location of third-party growers and retailers.

But in 18 to 24 months, new federal rules will cut out individual 
production and set up a supply and distribution system for dried 
marijuana that could be as large and lucrative as the pharmaceutical industry.

If properly regulated and monitored, commercial medical marijuana 
producers may provide an essential service for people with permission 
to use marijuana for health reasons although their product could be 
more costly. However, until then, the current situation is leading to 
more work for police and could be open to abuse.

What's more, privacy laws often make it difficult for law enforcement 
officials to get information on growers so cities want these business 
operations to be as transparent as possible.

To that end, Coquitlam is looking at a new bylaw that would require 
all third-party growers and unregulated compassion clubs to be 
licensed and located in one of five M-3 Special Industrial Zones.

Because the kind of stand-alone building these operations require 
would be hard to find in the M-3 zones, proponents will have to look 
elsewhere or seek a rezoning if they wish to stay in city boundaries. 
A rezoning, would then require a public hearing, giving officials and 
residents more information and possibly more control over the enterprise.

Some might say this kind of meddling is contrary to the aims of the 
Canada Marijuana Medical Access Regulations, but some sort of 
transparency is necessary if Coquitlam, and other cities, are to have 
some control over the development of this controversial industry.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom