Abbotsford lawyer representing patients in federal challenge A constitutional challenge of Canada's new medical marijuana laws - led by Abbotsford lawyer John Conroy - started in Vancouver on Monday. Conroy is representing patients who grow their own medical marijuana and are challenging the new federal system that would see the product grown by large commercial operations and sold to patients. Last year, Health Canada put in new regulations that would stop the personal production of marijuana on April 1, 2014. But in March 2014, growers were granted a temporary injunction allowing them to keep producing until the constitutional challenge was heard. [continues 224 words]
Province won't allow farm tax for new grow-ops on ALR land Commercial marijuana grow-ops could come to Abbotsford despite efforts to keep them outside city limits after the province rejected the city's proposed bylaw to ban grows from the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). Abbotsford has passed bylaws to keep the new federal system of legal grow-ops off industrial and residential land. The city is one of four B.C. communities that sought a ban in the ALR, but received a letter from the province denying the request. [continues 333 words]
As the city waits for provincial approval to ban commercial medical marijuana grow-ops on agricultural land, a company looking to set up a legal grow-op on the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) has applied for a business licence. Council decided on Monday to hold the application for 90 days. As the country moves to a system of commercial grows - ending the current system of home production - the city has approved bylaws to ban the large-scale operations in the city, seeking to make growing any marijuana in Abbotsford illegal. [continues 204 words]
Council will ask UBCM to lobby senior government for addresses The city is hoping the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) will endorse a plan to petition Health Canada to provide addresses for all grow operations licensed in the city. Each year, UBCM asks municipalities for resolutions, and if endorsed at the annual convention, give UBCM the mandate to lobby senior government on the issues. As the country shifts to commercial grow-ops instead of personal home production for medical marijuana, many municipalities are concerned about ensuring homes formerly used for grow-ops are properly remediated. [continues 96 words]
The medicine that Valley resident Bob Davidson takes for multiple sclerosis treats all of his symptoms, has allowed him to wean himself off morphine and get out of his wheelchair and start walking again. But that medication may soon become unaffordable, putting his most effective treatment - marijuana - out of reach. Federal changes to the medical marijuana system will go into effect on April 1, switching from the current personal at-home production licences to large-scale and highly regulated commercial grow-ops that will deliver the product by mail. [continues 1071 words]
Abbotsford Council Wants To Keep Medical Grow-Ops Out As the nation moves to a system of commercial grow-ops for medical marijuana production, Abbotsford has approved plans to keep the large-scale operations out of Abbotsford. On Monday, council passed third readings for two bylaws prohibiting grow-ops. One keeps marijuana out of residential and industrial areas, and the other bans the cultivation on agricultural land. The bylaw to keep grow-ops off Abbotsford's agricultural areas will require approval from the minister of agriculture, and both bylaws require final approval from council. [continues 278 words]
Abbotsford is on track to repeal its controversial bylaw against harm reduction measures, after approving the third reading of an amendment removing the prohibition on services such as needle exchanges. The unanimous decision came following a public hearing on Monday, where views on the issue were mixed. Gen Rottluff, who lives in Abbotsford's downtown, was concerned about the effect a needle exchange could have on her neighbourhood, and where hazardous needle waste could end up. She advocated for other methods of helping drug users, not giving addicts the "tools of the trade." [continues 321 words]
