Pubdate: Fri, 27 Jan 2017
Source: Cowichan Valley Citizen (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 Cowichan Valley Citizen
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/cowichanvalleycitizen/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4349

LACK OF CLARITY ON MARIJUANA UNFAIR ALL AROUND

It is past time for some clarity and action from the federal
government on the legalization of marijuana.

The Liberals have promised to take this step, which we think is long
overdue, but since they've come into office, they've been dragging
their heels on making it happen.

This has left everyone in and around the marijuana industry in a state
of flux and confusion.

This includes dispensaries, growers, users, the police and RCMP, local
governments and more.

Under the current regulations, which have not changed yet in spite of
the Liberals' promises, marijuana storefront dispensaries are illegal.
No two ways about it.

There are also numerous other laws prohibiting (for those without a
medical exemption) the production, sale and possession of marijuana.

Thus municipalities are understandably reluctant to give business
licences to them. You can't give a licence to what you know to be an
illegal business, after all. But at the same time, these business may
become legal in fairly short order. So do you go all out to try to
shut them down?

It's a quandary shared by the RCMP and municipalities.

There are a number of such shops in the Cowichan Valley, operating
quietly and peaceably - and they'd like to be legal, as soon as the
federal government allows it.

The prohibition of marijuana really hasn't done anything great for
anyone except organized crime, for whom it's been a windfall.

It's a much better idea to bring pot use out into the daylight,
regulate it similar to alcohol, and reap the benefits of having it be
a legitimate enterprise.

Many have found marijuana to be a preferred alternative to other,
stronger and more addictive medications. There are many ways to take
it other than smoking, which can be harmful to health as any smoking
product.

It's time to scientifically study the potential health benefits that
we've heard about anecdotally for decades.

The one big roadblock that stands in the way is the fact that it's
still officially illegal for most people.

We're at a bit of a loss to understand why it is taking the federal
government so long to legalize it and decide what the regulations are
going to be.

It's just leaving everyone in limbo, unsure about enforcing the old
rules when we're anticipating new ones.

Nobody can provide the clarity needed except Ottawa. Everyone's
waiting on you, guys. We've heard the talk, now it's time for action.
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MAP posted-by: Matt