Pubdate: Wed, 03 Jul 2013
Source: Oshawa Express, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2013 Dowellman Publishing Corp
Contact:  http://www.oshawaexpress.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5299

MEDICAL MARIJUANA SAFE TO DISCUSS

Medical marijuana is an issue that some members of the Oshawa 
Accessibility Advisory Committee feel has been put out time and time again.

But now there is hope that the matter can at least be debated and 
discussed inside the City council chamber.

According to committee member Marko Ivancicevic, several months ago 
the City of Oshawa passed the five-year accessibility plan. Within 
that plan is a statement that ultimately allows the accessibility 
committee to keep abreast of any information, communication, and 
research pertaining to medical marijuana and advise council of any 
changes to the legislation as it relates to the municipality.

This comes after years of trying to get the matter on the table, says 
Ivancicevic. In 2011, he, along with fellow members like Ben Fudge, 
tried to recommend to council that it "recognize all citizens have 
the equal right to take their prescribed medication in public without 
fear of harassment and discrimination, regardless of modality as 
recognized under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms."

It was turned down.

At the time, Ivancicevic told council he was disappointed with its 
decision and said, "All you are doing is accepting our rights and in 
the end that's all we're looking for. It's just showing solidarity. 
Am I going to go to my son's school and drop him off with a joint in 
my hand...no. The majority of people with their exemptions are very 
respectful."

Now, he says, "it's funny to see two years later they endorsed it 
(talking about it at all)."

In September there will be a presentation on the changes to the 
program and what it could mean for municipalities during an 
accessibility advisory committee meeting.

"That's going to be the real starting point," Ivancicevic says, 
adding there has been talk of forming a working group or 
sub-committee specific to the issue as well.

According to Mayor John Henry, the matter can be discussed at 
council, but there are still perimeters on the federal level that 
need to be hashed out.

"It's been discussed in the past. There is that voice out there that 
says it does help them," he says. "The discussions need to take place 
once the federal government is done their discussions. They're really 
should be some standardization. You don't want to confuse people. 
There's a lot of clarification and debate that will need to take place."

Ivancicevic says it's just time to get the discussion rolling.

"Federally they left it wide open. I hope that the mayor and council 
would attend the presentation in September."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom