Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
City council will be considering options to restrict production of medical marijuana in Prince George on Monday.
Licenses to produce medical marijuana are regulated by Health Canada. In his report, city bylaw services manager Guy Gusdal said the city could examine bylaws which would prohibit marijuana growth in residential-zoned properties or place zoning restrictions on marijuana production.
"Staff are currently aware of only one medical marijuana personal-use production license in the city, but unfortunately with the current system there are no means to accurately determine how many licenses exist within the city," Gusdal wrote in his report. "Health Canada does not have any provisions for notifying local authorities of marijuana production licenses in a municipality's jurisdiction. Due to the lack of information sharing it will be extremely difficult for the city to take a proactive approach to regulating medical marijuana grow operations."
The city can enforce its fire and safety code bylaws on a medicinal marijuana grower, he added, but relies on complaints from the public to initiate investigations. In his report, Gusdal advised city council to support the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' call for stronger regulation on medicinal marijuana growers.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has been raising concerns about Health Canada's oversight of medical marijuana producers since 2008.
"Municipal fire departments are finding that marijuana growers licensed under the [Marijuana Medical Access Regulations] are often not adhering to safety regulations," FCM president Basil Stewart wrote to Health Minister Leona Aqlukkaq. "Evidence suggests that medical marijuana grow operations can present many of the same threats to public safety as illegal grow operations."
The FCM is calling on the Health Canada to notify municipal governments about medicinal marijuana growers and enforce regulations which require medical marijuana producers to adhere to safety regulations.
In a written response, Aqlukkaq said medical marijuana producers are required to follow all federal, provincial and municipal laws -- but Health Canada does not verify producers adherence to provincial laws before or after licensing.
Supporters of medical marijuana say the drug is an invaluable treatment for chronic pain and other conditions.
Chronic Pain Association of Canada support group organizer Theresa Kyle urged city council not to consider restricting medical marijuana production.
"It's an amazing treatment. It really makes such a huge difference for me to have clean medicine," Kyle said. "I'm not taking it to get high, I'm taking it to relax my muscles. If I had someone to grow my medicine for me, I'd be able to go back to work."
Kyle suffers from complex regional pain syndrome, a rare condition which causes intense pain, swelling, skin discolouration and sensitivity.
Kyle is one of 2,822 Canadians who have received a federal Personal-Use Production License. The license authorizes her to grow up to 15 marijuana plants every four months.
"If you have a patient with a federal license to grow, they've gone through a rigorous screening process," she said. "Only a specialist can proscribe it. You have to go through psychological testing -- they don't just put you on it. Any time the federal government can walk in, without notice, and inspect your garden."
Kyle does not currently grow marijuana because her landlord will not allow it on the property.
"If the city put in a bylaw, it would be even harder," she said. "People like me, we don't want to piss people off, we just want our medicine."
City council will debate the issue tonight. Council's meeting starts at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Prince George Citizen (CN BC)
Page: Front Page
Copyright: 2011 Prince George Citizen
Contact: letters@princegeorgecitizen.com
Website: Prince George Citizen
Details: MapInc
Author: Arthur Williams
Licenses to produce medical marijuana are regulated by Health Canada. In his report, city bylaw services manager Guy Gusdal said the city could examine bylaws which would prohibit marijuana growth in residential-zoned properties or place zoning restrictions on marijuana production.
"Staff are currently aware of only one medical marijuana personal-use production license in the city, but unfortunately with the current system there are no means to accurately determine how many licenses exist within the city," Gusdal wrote in his report. "Health Canada does not have any provisions for notifying local authorities of marijuana production licenses in a municipality's jurisdiction. Due to the lack of information sharing it will be extremely difficult for the city to take a proactive approach to regulating medical marijuana grow operations."
The city can enforce its fire and safety code bylaws on a medicinal marijuana grower, he added, but relies on complaints from the public to initiate investigations. In his report, Gusdal advised city council to support the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' call for stronger regulation on medicinal marijuana growers.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has been raising concerns about Health Canada's oversight of medical marijuana producers since 2008.
"Municipal fire departments are finding that marijuana growers licensed under the [Marijuana Medical Access Regulations] are often not adhering to safety regulations," FCM president Basil Stewart wrote to Health Minister Leona Aqlukkaq. "Evidence suggests that medical marijuana grow operations can present many of the same threats to public safety as illegal grow operations."
The FCM is calling on the Health Canada to notify municipal governments about medicinal marijuana growers and enforce regulations which require medical marijuana producers to adhere to safety regulations.
In a written response, Aqlukkaq said medical marijuana producers are required to follow all federal, provincial and municipal laws -- but Health Canada does not verify producers adherence to provincial laws before or after licensing.
Supporters of medical marijuana say the drug is an invaluable treatment for chronic pain and other conditions.
Chronic Pain Association of Canada support group organizer Theresa Kyle urged city council not to consider restricting medical marijuana production.
"It's an amazing treatment. It really makes such a huge difference for me to have clean medicine," Kyle said. "I'm not taking it to get high, I'm taking it to relax my muscles. If I had someone to grow my medicine for me, I'd be able to go back to work."
Kyle suffers from complex regional pain syndrome, a rare condition which causes intense pain, swelling, skin discolouration and sensitivity.
Kyle is one of 2,822 Canadians who have received a federal Personal-Use Production License. The license authorizes her to grow up to 15 marijuana plants every four months.
"If you have a patient with a federal license to grow, they've gone through a rigorous screening process," she said. "Only a specialist can proscribe it. You have to go through psychological testing -- they don't just put you on it. Any time the federal government can walk in, without notice, and inspect your garden."
Kyle does not currently grow marijuana because her landlord will not allow it on the property.
"If the city put in a bylaw, it would be even harder," she said. "People like me, we don't want to piss people off, we just want our medicine."
City council will debate the issue tonight. Council's meeting starts at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Prince George Citizen (CN BC)
Page: Front Page
Copyright: 2011 Prince George Citizen
Contact: letters@princegeorgecitizen.com
Website: Prince George Citizen
Details: MapInc
Author: Arthur Williams
