Pubdate: Thu, 30 Apr 2015
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2015 The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Authors: Ian Bailey and Justine Hunter
Page: S1

B.C. HEALTH BACKS DISPENSARY CHANGES

Minister Terry Lake says Vancouver is 'operating in the interests of
their citizens' by overhauling regulations

B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake is backing Vancouver over the federal
government in the city's bid to regulate medical marijuana
dispensaries over Ottawa's objections.

"I understand why Vancouver has done what they have done, because of
the vacuum created by the federal government," Mr. Lake told reporters
in Victoria on Wednesday, making his first comments on the
controversial issue.

"I think they are operating in the interests of their citizens and at
least putting some regulatory framework in their city and, as our
public health officers have said, they think they are doing it for the
right reasons.

"And until Ottawa changes the regulatory environment, cities and
municipalities are left to do that."

Mr. Lake's comments put him at odds with his federal counterpart, who
has used a pair of letters - one co-signed by federal Public Safety
Minister Steven Blaney - to call on the city to abandon its plans
because they could facilitate youth access to marijuana.

But Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson has dismissed the federal protest
and city council voted Tuesday to proceed with public hearings on its
plans - a key step to enacting the policies that have raised federal
concern, likely by this fall.

On Wednesday, the Vancouver Police Department announced it had raided
a marijuana store after "public safety concerns" were raised,
including an incident in which a 15-year-old was hospitalized after
allegedly buying edible products there. Although staff were arrested,
no charges were laid, police said in a statement.

The VPD said it regards the dispensaries as illegal, but is being
selective about enforcements. Over the past 18 months, the force has
obtained nine search warrants. "Police will take action again if there
are public safety concerns, particularly if they involve youth," the
statement said.

The city has proposed new rules to limit where dispensaries are
located, and also a $30,000 licence fee for new and existing
operations. Vancouver is acting because of a surge in dispensaries,
from 20 in 2012 to a current total of more than 80.

Mr. Lake also said the province would not try to set up a regulatory
framework because he was not sure it would withstand a court
challenge. "We don't want to jump into a space that is properly the
role of the federal government," he said.

But political scientist Richard Johnston said he expected the
Conservatives would be wary about any court action on the issue now
because it could prevent them from easily using marijuana access as a
political issue.

The Research Chair in public opinion, elections and representation at
the University of British Columbia said the Conservatives may be
betting that if the dispensary issue is alive, they can woo voters
wary about federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau's promise to legalize
marijuana.

"I think the Conservatives want to draw the Liberals out on this one,"
he said. "The issue needs to be as alive as possible from [the
Conservative] point of view."

Federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose has been vague about exactly what
her government will do about its concerns beyond raising them in
correspondence and news conferences. Asked twice about the court
option at a news conference in Surrey, B.C., last week, Ms. Ambrose
dodged the question, vaguely referring to possible police action.

Murray Rankin, the federal NDP health critic, said Ms. Ambrose's
evasion is likely politically motivated. The Victoria MP said the
Tories appear to be trying to remind their base that they are opposed
to marijuana law reform.

"I don't know that they want a solution. I think they want to keep the
pot boiling in a pre-election period," he said on Wednesday.

Mr. Rankin noted the NDP supports the decriminalization of small
amounts of marijuana and wants an independent commission with a broad
mandate to study the non-medical use of marijuana.
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MAP posted-by: Matt