Pubdate: Fri, 26 Jun 2015
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html
Website: http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Forman Howes
Page: 24
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n344/a03.html

CITY USING COMMON SENSE

Wednesday's column by Gordon Clark misuses research to back up a weak 
argument against what Vancouver is attempting to achieve through its 
regulation of medical marijuana dispensaries.

What the city is doing is progressive and should be supported by 
anyone who likes evidenced-based approaches to policy. The city has 
for a long time stopped enforcing cannabis possession as it is seen 
as a drain on limited police and court resources for no gain to public safety.

The reason we have more than a hundred marijuana dispensaries is that 
there is a huge appetite for this drug. Most of it is probably 
recreational, but a sizable amount of it is for medical conditions. 
It may not cure anything but it does reduce suffering and it is safe.

When you weigh its desirability, utility and safety against the 
negative consequences of prohibition, it is clear that what the city 
is doing is the type of governance that we should all expect from our 
elected politicians.

Forman Howes, Vancouver
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom