Pubdate: Thu, 28 Mar 2013
Source: Chilliwack Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Chilliwack Times
Contact:  http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1357
Author: Paul J. Henderson

LEGAL POT GROWERS FEEL BETRAYED BY GOV'T

Doug Hewer tends to his garden with the loving care of a dedicated 
horticulturalist.

That's because the 61-year-old's plants are his medicine and after 
decades of being criminalized for using marijuana, then a few years 
of it being legal, he can't believe the federal government plans to 
end his legal ability to grow in his home.

"The fact that they can't kick my door down, rob me of everything, 
make me spend all my extra money on a lawyer, it's been a bonus and 
to take it away now is ripping the rug out from under me," Hewer told 
the Times in an interview.

"I've been thrown in jail all over the world. I'm so sick of this."

Hewer is one of the more than 500 individuals in Chilliwack who are 
legally licensed to grow marijuana for personal medical use.

According to figures obtained through an Access to Information 
request early last year, there were 238 Chilliwack residents licensed 
to possess marijuana for medical reasons and 193 licensed to produce 
marijuana for medical purposes.

Last month there were 666 people in Chilliwack possession licences, 
513 with personal use production licences (PUPL) and 77 with 
designated person production licences (DPPL).

For critics such as Mayor Sharon Gaetz, the near tripling of legal 
growers in Chilliwack in one year points to the problem of illegal 
pot farms using the Health Canada medical marihuana access 
regulations (MMAR) as a front.

Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq is among the critics of the MMAR 
program, saying in December the current MMAR system is open to abuse. 
Changes are coming April 1, 2014, that will see, among other things, 
marijuana growing taken out of residential areas.

Under the proposed changes, licensed producers will be required to 
notify local governments, local police forces and fire officials of 
their intention to apply to Health Canada so that local authorities 
will be aware of the location of the grow-ops.

It's all too much for Hewer, who insists marijuana is not only 
harmless but is a blessing.

Hewer has a "garden" of 200 plants in his house, which includes his 
licence for 73 plants and the two licences for his roommate and his 
ex-wife. He said he spent a lot of money to "do it right." He has two 
separate 100 amp electrical sources coming into the house, one for 
home use and one for the crop.

His electrical is up to code, he uses charcoal filters that help with 
odours, he has an alarm system set up and, for the most part, is 
following the law.

"I'm sort of legal," Hewer conceded, adding that "the excess" goes to 
pay for the expensive electricity bills.

"Who else is going to pay for the $2,800 Hydro?"

Hewer said he used to be an "outlaw" and has been spent time in jail 
for possession of his high-quality "honey" oil in India, Germany and Holland.

He claims he even spent 10 years in the Himalayas running from German 
authorities. But it was in jail in Holland that he says a dirty 
needle was used on him against his will and he contracted hepatitis C.

"I lost a lot of hair and my skin was falling out but I survived it 
and without cannabis I don't know if I could have," he said.

Hewer is aware of the irony in the fact that he uses cannabis to 
treat an illness he says he contracted while in prison for possession 
of cannabis.

"All due to this stupid law," he said. "This is one of the biggest 
cash crops in this province. The only dangers of marijuana are if you 
get busted."

Hewer wanted to tell his story of (mostly) adhering to the 
regulations and running a safe, responsible MMAR grow in his home 
after reading a series of Times stories where critics of the program 
were heard.

The first, from Feb. 21, talked about the huge growth in the program 
over 12 months. The second, a Feb. 26 story centred around local 
business owners who feel their hands are tied despite operating 
adjacent to a 2,000square-foot MMAR garden in a light industrial zone 
in a strata building.

The third story, on Feb. 28, focused on issues with a large medical 
marijuana grow operation in a rural area that neighbours says is set 
to expand and is nothing more than a front for illegal activity.

Then there was the March 14 story about a medical marijuana growing 
operation in the Eastern Hillsides that was recently busted by the 
Chilliwack RCMP for stealing electricity, and found to be growing 15 
times more than allowed by Health Canada.

Hewer says the media makes sweeping judgments about all growers when 
doing stories about the few who break the rules or are unsafe.

"Most of us are doing it right," he said, adding that the best 
growers are in a catch-22 when it comes to becoming a potential large 
scale grower for Health Canada.

"I'd like to grow for others. They won't let me because I have a 
criminal record for marijuana. I'm an expert and they don't want an expert."

After a near lifetime of marijuana growing, and use, and fighting 
prohibition laws all over the world, Hewer finally thought he could 
relax, grow his cannabis in his home and enjoy hobbies, such as 
playing music, in peace. But a year from now his growing licence will 
be taken away by Health Canada and he will lose the legal access to 
his medicine.

"I'm ashamed our government is pulling the rug out from under us."

Hewer has joined up with the MMAR Coalition Against Repeal, an 
organization fighting Health Canada's planned changes.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom