Pubdate: Fri, 05 Feb 2016 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Copyright: 2016 Postmedia Network Inc. Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v16/n066/a09.html Author: Colette Rivet Page: B5 POT SHOPS ARE STILL ILLEGAL Feds should act quickly to fill policy and enforcement vacuum Re: Vancouver set to approve first legal marijuana shops, Feb. 1 It's important for people to know that, regardless of municipal business licensing processes,marijuana retail stores are illegal in Canada - full stop. What this means on a practical level is that consumers who buy products from these stores do not have the protection of the law behind them. If they were stopped by police, they could be charged with possession, which unfortunately happens to far too many people across Canada every year. The sole legal way for patients to access medical cannabis is through a licensed producer regulated by Health Canada, supported by a medical authorization from the patient's doctor. Forty thousand Canadian patients receive their medical cannabis this way, typically delivered to their door by mail within two days of ordering. Registered patients are legally protected, and can even claim the cost of their medicine as an allowable medical expense under the Income Tax Act. As the industry association for Canada's legal, regulated medical cannabis producers, we are sympathetic to the efforts of municipalities such as Vancouver, who are attempting to use bylaws to gain some control over the proliferation of illegal marijuana dispensaries. However, what is really needed is for the federal government to close the policy and enforcement vacuum by moving quickly to establish a regulated and enforced legal industry for both medical and recreational cannabis. Colette Rivet Executive director, Canadian Medical Cannabis Industry Association - --- MAP posted-by: Matt