Pubdate: Fri, 24 Jul 2015
Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB)
Copyright: 2015 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.winnipegsun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.winnipegsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503
Author: Joyanne Pursaga
Page: 4

TRUDEAU BACKS POT SHOP, RESTATES VOW TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

Trudeau Reaffirms Support for Legalizing and Regulating Marijuana

Federal Liberal leader Justin Trudeau vowed to legalize and regulate 
marijuana, if elected, removing the legal grey area surrounding 
Winnipeg's first medical marijuana shop.

Trudeau was asked if the owner of Winnipeg's medical marijuana 
dispensary should be allowed to keep his business open after two 
police warnings to shut it down. Those warnings come despite the fact 
Vancouver city council passed a bylaw to allow medical pot shops in June.

The Liberal leader said national legalization would allow regulated 
sales without such inconsistencies and confusion across the country.

"We need a fresh approach that controls and regulates marijuana so 
.. Canadians can know where their government and where the police 
officers actually stand," said Trudeau.

"We've committed to controlling and regulating marijuana, to 
legalizing it to make it more difficult for young people to access 
and also to remove the revenue stream from criminal organizations and 
street gangs," he added.

Glenn Price, the owner of the Your Medical Cannabis Headquarters shop 
on Main Street, said he would follow any regulation imposed to ensure 
the drug is sold safely.

"I want to make it as safe as possible and ensure my medicine doesn't 
get sold on the street. I don't sell to kids. I never did," said 
Price. "If anyone was caught selling my medicine, I would never sell 
to them again."

Price confirmed his store was still open to fill prescriptions, as of 
Wednesday.

Winnipeg police said they have not returned to the store since it 
re-opened Tuesday but "absolutely" could do so again, as the store's 
presence is the matter of an "ongoing investigation."

"The question is who's going to proceed with that at what point. It 
is questionable across the country," said Const. Eric Hofley.

A Winnipeg Sun request to speak with the federal Justice Minister was 
declined Wednesday, though an e-mailed statement was provided on 
behalf of Manitoba's regional minister Shelly Glover.

The statement sent by Jeremy Davis claims marijuana dispensaries have 
"no regard for the rule of law and have been caught selling marijuana to kids."

"Justin Trudeau's support for this unlicensed storefront dispensary 
is akin to supporting prescription drugs being sold on the street 
versus through licensed pharmacies regulated by Health Canada," the 
statement said. "Our government supports the Winnipeg Police Service 
in shutting down illegal storefront dispensaries and expects all 
police services across the country to follow the law. Marijuana is an 
illegal drug with dangerous and lasting health effects."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom