Pubdate: Wed, 16 Apr 2014
Source: Peace Arch News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Joy Davies
Contact:  http://www.peacearchnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1333
Author: Joy Davies
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n303/a04.html
Note: 1 of 2 letters

MARIJUANA STANCE DOESN'T ADD UP

Editor:

Re: Pot laws need adjusting, April 3 column.

Canadian Medical Cannabis Partners are encouraged by columnist Frank
Bucholtz's acknowledgment that the right platform for medical-cannabis
regulation is the provincial government and that municipalities need
to engage the provinces to make this happen.

After our five years of forward motion in this direction, it is so
disheartening to hear our premier revert to the old rhetoric "federal
jurisdiction."

If she won't listen to patients, maybe she will listen to the
municipalities who are also major stakeholders.

With regards to the Surrey fire chief's report filled with innuendos,
the only relationship between the criminal element and those with
health issues that use cannabis as their medicine is the relationship
the media and politicians create so they can support a misguided
agenda of profiteering, now becoming legal profiteering on the backs
of our sickest and weakest.

Yes, there are there people who misuse the system for profit.
According to RCMP 2010 reports, that number is 70. That does not
justify throwing under the bus the 39,930-plus law-abiding patients
using their cannabis for their personal medical conditions.

It is time the province accepts responsibility and begins the process
of developing a provincial strategy so that we can truly get the
criminal element out of the marijuana business and allow patients
their dignity to access.

The federal Conservatives program will cause an increase to criminal
activity, less "safe communities" and more harm to legitimate folks
with health issues.

In 2010, there were 106,000 deaths by pharmaceuticals and zero deaths
by cannabis. It is time for the media to report truth and support life.

Joy Davies, White Rock  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D