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
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MAP posted-by: Matt