Pubdate: Wed, 17 Jun 2015
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network
Contact:  http://www.calgaryherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Jason Markusoff
Page: A2

COUNCIL CALLS FOR ZONING RULES ON MARIJUANA

Calgary council has demanded rules in place to limit and regulate 
medical marijuana businesses, for fear a bout of reefer madness may 
break out in a city that has a single counselling clinic that cannot 
dispense the drug.

That one outlet, 420 Clinic, has recently opened in Inglewood, to 
limited community alarm.

Councillors like Diane Colley-Urquhart have looked anxiously to 
Vancouver, where 100 illegal dispensaries have sprung up and prompted 
that city to hurry with regulations for zoning and licensing.

Calgary council unanimously called Tuesday for some set of zoning 
rules to prevent clustering of marijuana service shops or locating 
them near schools.

Those proposed rules would come to council by October, the same month 
as the federal election - a vote that could shift Canada away from 
the sternly antipot Conservatives and toward the pro-legalization 
Liberals or pro-decriminalization NDP.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's party has denounced the Supreme Court 
of Canada for ruling to allow marijuana use for medical purposes, 
forcing Health Canada to regulate the product. It's been messy, after 
Ottawa first permitted home growers and then reversed tack, only 
sanctioning industrial grow ops.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi called the system "untenable, and it's got to be 
fixed. In the meantime, we've got to get ready."

Rollin Stanley, head of planning, said the city won't license any 
illegal activity, but the city could prepare a regime for legal 
businesses related to medical marijuana.

Colley- Urquhart questioned even the counselling service, which the 
Inglewood Community Association has found harmless. Colley- Urquhart, 
a nurse and police commissioner, said doctors can handle 
prescriptions just fine, without counselling shops as the middle man.

"These people don't necessarily have the credentials to advise on 
anything," she said.

Jeff Mooij, the 420 Clinic's operations director, said the lack of 
expertise is widespread in the medical system. Those who prescribe 
know little about the right strain or dosage to recommend, he said.

He said he hopes city staff will consult him on regulations.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom