Pubdate: Wed, 28 Oct 2015
Source: Lake Country Calendar (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Black Press
Contact: http://www.lakecountrycalendar.com/contact_us/
Website: http://www.lakecountrycalendar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2229
Author: Mark Conlin

CLARK DOESN'T ACCEPT INVITE TO DISCUSS POT'S FUTURE

To the editor:

As a local organizer for Sensible BC and constituent of West Kelowna, 
I recently contacted the office of my MLA - Premier Christy 
Clark-regarding the election of the federal Liberals and the 
anticipated change to Canada's marijuana laws. As in my past 
correspondence with her office, I offered her the opportunity to 
discuss the issue with some of our own experts in the field. These 
include Ph.D. researchers, medical personnel, growers, patients and 
medical dispensary representatives.

Rather than initiating this inevitable conversation, I was given a 
polite "thanks, but, no thanks", response. Instead, the B.C. 
government will wait for the federal government to consult with them 
and, then, Premier Clark's government will consult with health and 
public security officials.

Unfortunately, this demonstrates exactly why the black market is 
flourishing. Premier Clark's position ignores the fully functioning 
industry and distribution network already in place. Without 
acknowledging and, to some extent, incorporating, those pre-existing 
players-patients, dispensaries and growers-B.C. will continue to miss 
out on the economic and social advantages of a well thought out 
legalization regimen. The black market will continue to thrive 
without public buy-in to any new system.

Given that her LNG proposals have tanked so dramatically, one would 
think that Premier Clark would recognize an economic life preserver 
when she sees one.

Mark Conlin, organizer, Sensible BC-West Kelowna
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom