Pubdate: Thu, 07 Jan 2016 Source: Alberni Valley News (CN BC) Copyright: 2016 Alberni Valley News Contact: http://www.albernivalleynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4247 Author: Neil Anderson CITY COUNCIL JUMPS THE GUN ON WEED To the Editor, The whole issue of medical marijuana is nothing more than a huge array of lies and deceit. Anyone can walk into one of these dispensaries, show a receipt from a pharmacy and if it falls under their long list of medical issue, you sign a paper and purchase a product. These dispensaries may deny this, however, I did it. I simply brought in a receipt from a pharmacy and without even looking they said that yes, that will do and I made my purchase. This was all of course part of my investigation into this contentious issue. Medical marijuana is presently regulated by the federal government. City council maintains that the motion they passed to have city staff write guidelines to regulate medical marijuana does not mean that they are condoning them. I believe this motion clearly does extend an air of legitimacy to these dispensaries. When council passed this motion, we had one store. Now, I believe we have three and growing. Council chose the easy way under the disguise of being proactive and preparing for the expected changes in federal regulations expected from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. I would expect that when they laws change they will include very strict guidelines. Council has the power to determine what is in the best interest of this community. They have the power to influence and pressure and the appropriate authority to take action consistent with what is acknowledged as a violation of federal law. Instead, council has chose not to be leaders but follow the example of Vancouver. Vancouver has lost control and are unable to police the increasing number of dispensaries. Dispensaries only sell medical and not recreational? Rubbish. Where do they buy their product? Seems we don't care. We want to change and improve the image of Port Alberni and yet in the last couple of years we have increased the visibility of liquor stores and pot dispensaries in prime locations in the community. That coupled with one of the highest crime rates per capital in the country is not conducive to improving this community's image and detracts from the efforts made by so many. Neil Anderson Port Alberni - --- MAP posted-by: Matt