Pubdate: Fri, 17 Apr 2015
Source: Kelowna Capital News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015, West Partners Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.kelownacapnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1294
Author: Mark Conlin

WEST KELOWNA VOTES DOWN POT DISPENSARIES

To the editor:

After having attended the April 14 West Kelowna municipal council
meeting, I came away disappointed, in that there was a majority vote
decision that will make it a little easier for our youth to buy
marijuana on our streets and in our parks.

The vote was on an amendment to a municipal bylaw which would disallow
the business licensing of medicinal marijuana dispensaries in West
Kelowna. On the surface, this might seem reasonable, as these
alternative health facilities are not the legally recognized way for
patients to receive their medication. However, a closer look at this
issue is warranted.

If the underlying goal of this amendment is to curtail the opening of
further medical marijuana dispensaries and, ultimately, the closure of
the existing ones, this council is doing a disservice to both its
citizens that view these businesses as a valuable resource for their
medical needs and, even more importantly, to the wider community in
that this amendment will actually increase unrestricted access to
marijuana to minors. It defeats any kind of limiting effect council
members might hope to bring about in who has access and, under what
circumstances.

These dispensaries have arisen out of federal prohibition policy.
Authorized patients had made their preference for a dispensary system
known to Health Canada, prior to the implementation of the federal
government's misguided attempt at cobbling together a supply system
that neither adequately serves the needs of Canadian patients and
continues to apply prohibitionist policies.

Under our current legal access system, a mail order provider is not
allowed to provide information regarding the efficacy or use of
specific strains. They are not allowed to provide pictures. They are
not allowed to provide extracts-many of which are shown to be very
beneficial and do not get you high-and, they are not allowed to
provide edibles for those patients with breathing problems. That's
because prohibitionists developed this system. They don't believe in
medical marijuana and have been forced to allow for it through court
decisions. This proposed amendment only puts a local face to that
failed policy.

Denying and, ultimately, closing our dispensaries does nothing to
discourage cannabis use in our community. Rather, it forces a return
to private residences, parks, bars-anywhere other than a controlled
setting. With dispensaries the municipality has, at least, some
assurance that there are age and medical restrictions and that the
medicine is provided in a known setting, subject to local inspection.
This proposal is a step backwards in the effective control and
regulation of marijuana in West Kelowna.

There was no compelling reason for this council to act as federal
agents, in this matter. Other municipalities have allowed them without
federal repercussions. 3 in Kelowna, 5 in Vernon...81 in Vancouver! I
reminded the council that, as part of the UBCM, the legalization and
regulation of marijuana, including medical marijuana has been endorsed
by that body.

None of this seemed to matter, though, so...we're back to no control
over who has access, whatsoever. I would encourage those citizens
concerned about putting more pot in the hands of our kids to contact
the mayor and council regarding this vote.

Mark Conlin, West Kelowna
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MAP posted-by: Matt