Pubdate: Wed, 15 Nov 2017
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Amy Smart
Page: 13
Referenced: http://mapinc.org/url/gD63r4YP
Referenced: http://mapinc.org/url/VP2qX7UP

B.C. DOCTORS SUGGEST BAN ON GROWING POT AT HOME

Doctors of B.C. is asking the provincial government to consider
banning individuals from growing recreational pot at home when it
becomes legal in July.

The group was one of more than 130 stakeholders offering feedback to
the B.C. government as part of its consultation on cannabis regulation
and distribution. The variety of submissions points to the complex
decisions government faces.

Doctors of B.C. provided a list of "considerations" since there isn't
enough evidence to make a strong recommendation, said president-elect
Dr. Eric Cadesky. "There isn't a consensus amongst doctors. The
feedback we got contained many different points of view."

He said that's because there are no clear guidelines on how to safely
grow and use cannabis.

Under federal Bill C-45, adults would be allowed to grow up to four
cannabis plants per household.

Doctors of B.C. cited a Canadian Medical Association recommendation
that identified potential health risks with home cultivation, such as
high humidity and temperatures, risk of fire and pesticide use.
Children might also have access to the plants and there's a lack of
quality control for potency.

The federal government has set July 1 as the date for marijuana
legalization and it's up to provinces to figure out how it will be
regulated and distributed in each province.

That means determining matters such as legal age for consumption,
possession limits, home cultivation rules and who will be allowed to
sell marijuana.

B.C. Solicitor General Mike Farnworth has said the government won't
have any word on regulation and distribution models before the spring
session of the legislature.

The B.C. Association of Municipal Chiefs of Police is asking for more
funding to support training for drug-recognition experts and field
sobriety testing for cannabis-enforcement teams and a seed-to-sale
inspection strategy.

The police association also recommends pricing that is competitive
with the black market, setting the consumption age at 19 and creating
penalty structures for public consumption similar to alcohol.

It says only licensed commercial producers should be allowed grow it.
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MAP posted-by: Matt