MEDICAL MARIJUANA BOOSTERS ENCOURAGED

Medical marijuana advocates think Victoria city hall has heard their
message about the need for sick people to have access to pot.

About 30 supporters of medical marijuana said they were encouraged Tuesday
as they left a joint meeting of the Victoria Police Board and city council.

Several councillors and police board members said they wanted more
information about the federal legislation that allows physician-approved
people to legally possess marijuana. But the law leaves the
medically-approved people in a conundrum because it is still illegal for
them to buy pot.

The councillors and board members discussed having a Health Canada
representative come to a meeting to explain some of the intricacies and
seeming inconsistencies of the legislation. No date was set.

Medical marijuana advocates said they believe that sharing their personal
stories at a council meeting last week made all the difference.

"We've got to keep humanizing this issue for people to understand," said
Ted Smith, who faces six marijuana-related charges.

While one arm of federal legislation allows approved people to have
marijuana, the federal Criminal Code still makes possession illegal for
most people.

And the police have to follow the Criminal Code, said Victoria Police Chief
Paul Battershill.

At one point, it was suggested that police could essentially turn a blind
eye to pot trafficking for medicinal purposes.

"That's starting down a very, very slippery slope, when you tell the
police, 'We do not want you to follow the law,'" Battershill said.