Pubdate: Sat, 02 Mar 2013
Source: Daily Courier, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/5NyOACet
Website: http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/531
Author: Sean Upshaw

NEW RULES ON MEDICINAL POT WELCOMED

I commend Prime Minister Harper and the federal government for their 
intelligent stance on medical marijuana.

I understand there are some very rare cases where marijuana is the 
best or only remedy for an individual's chronic pain and, as such, it 
should be available for use as a medicine. However, for the most 
part, the current arrangement is nothing less than an abusive system 
that allows potheads to grow cheap dope.

We are not so naive to believe that some of this is not being shared 
or sold for recreational use. If it is a medicine, then it should be 
regulated the same as other pharmaceuticals and should only be 
available by prescription and purchased at appropriate 
government-regulated dispensers.

We don't allow citizens to produce other painkillers ad-hoc in their 
basements, so why this?

Furthermore, with all kinds of homes growing pot, it is a fire hazard.

As a realtor, myself and others come across the damage done by 
grow-ops quite often in the form of structural, electrical and mold 
issues in homes.

Because it was a legal grow-op, the seller may not have disclosed it 
because they were never busted. Busted or not, the damage is done and 
now unsuspecting buyers are left to suffer the consequences.

Children can develop sickness because of hidden mold.

I applaud Harper and MP Ron Cannan for doing what they were elected 
to do and giving Health Canada the ability to regulate this medicine 
as it should be.

All of us will benefit from this legislation, and we can then service 
those who may need this drug the same as all other citizens receive 
their medication.

The rest of us can sleep better at night knowing that some pothead 
next door is not going to burn the whole neighbourhood down.

Sean Upshaw, Kelowna
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom