MAYOR EXNER CLARIFIES VIEWS ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

To the Editor:

Re: Clarification on Issue of Medical Marihuana, Cannabis Compassion Club

I was asked by the press to comment on the opening of the Nelson Cannabis
Compassion Club and some of my remarks were quoted in the Nelson Daily News
article dealing with the subject on Wednesday, July 12th, 2000.

While I stand on my comment that "there are some politicians who are coming
out for it (medical use of marihuana)..." I wish to clarify that I would
only endorse distribution of marihuana for medicinal purposes in our
community if this was done under a legal framework. The comments I made
primarily regarded licencing, and I was attempting to point out that a
non-profit society that sells any product to only registered members does
not require a business licence. Once they sell to the general public, then
a licence is required. These comments were taken out of context and lend
the impression to the reader that I am endorsing the Nelson Cannabis
Compassion Club selling marijuana to its members under the current scheme.
Nothing could be further from the truth.

I am aware that under an initiative of Alan Rock, the Federal Government is
conducting trial research in the medicinal use of marihuana, and that
individuals suffering from chronic illness can even apply to obtain a
permit to grow marihuana to alleviate personal suffering. My understanding
is that the active ingredient in marihuana, which is used to control nausea
in chemotherapy patients, is available by prescription from our local
physicians in a synthesized (not smoked) form. All these initiatives are
very strictly controlled, and the Nelson Cannabis Compassion Club is not
aligned with these initiatives or approved to possess or sell marihuana. As
such, if they are doing what they purport to be doing in your newspaper,
they are breaking the law and may be subject to arrest and sanction.

In my view, it is inappropriate for any unlicenced, unqualified individual
to venture into prescribing or selling a banned substance. Our citizens
would be well advised to let local medical professionals deal with the best
interests of their health.

Gary Exner
Mayor
Nelson