Pubdate: Tue, 09 Jul 2013
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html
Website: http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Phil Sampson
Page: A13

NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAWS WON'T CHANGE ILLEGAL GROWING

Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq opines that the new legislation
on medical marijuana access is going to get rid of dangerous fire and
mould risks in homegrown marijuana.

As the equipment used is identical to that used by any amateur
gardener growing, for example, orchids in the basement, can we expect
this hobby to be outlawed as well?

It's only the illegal grow-ops that use unsafe methods of growing.
Modern grow tents with charcoal filters, fans and LED lights don't
pose a problem. Steel grow cabinets are built to the Canadian
electrical specifications and are computer controlled.

The commercial supply of medical marijuana is being handed over to
commercial growers - Big Pharma - the same people who lobby to keep
marijuana illegal to protect their expensive drug production.
Marijuana grown by commercial growers will be expensive for poor,
older medical users, the largest demographic of users.

They will be forced to buy from the local black market at cheaper
street prices as any black marketer will tell you the price of street
marijuana is falling due to its popularity.

Illegal growers don't care what law is in place and the police have
shown they can't control it. Does Aglukkaq think that changing the law
will stop them? I seriously think not.

Phil Sampson, Coquitlam
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MAP posted-by: Matt