COUNCIL SHOULD SUPPORT PATIENTS

Grand Forks city council said that they do not feel it is the
responsibility of municipal governments to push for change in the
laws governing medical marijuana in Canada and our province on May 11.

Municipal counsellors represent their community.That community
includes people of all ages, races, and abilities. In the past local
councils have pushed the province to take action on many social and
health issues by bringing forward resolutions to the Union of B.C.
Municipalities (UBCM) convention. Just last year our local council
took initiatives forward on youth centres, and drug houses among
others. Resolutions brought to the UBCM require a response from the
province, thereby, at the very least, drawing attention to issues
facing the citizens of B.C.

So why was the proposed resolution by Coun. Joy Davies not supported?
It is a resolution that allows chronically or critically ill citizens
access to an optional medication that doctors could prescribe and
give those same people legal access to the drug. If Davies had
proposed that the council support sick people to access penicillin,
would there have ever been a discussion?

What city council was most likely sensitive to was the topic of
marijuana. In a community where a part of the local economy is
reliant on the growing and sale of this currently illegal substance,
the councillors were probably reluctant to encourage the perceived
negative attention that could result if Davies was successful in
supporting the fight for change.

Comments were also made about the drug being a "gateway" to harder
drugs.If marijuana were available under prescription, it would no
more be a gateway than morphine. Davies and other advocates are not
suggesting freely available drugs - they are looking for legitimate
options for people in pain. Given a life of chronic pain, would you
choose morphine or, if it was available, cannabis? Which does less
harm in the long-term?

In a time when the enforcement of drug laws are costing our society
millions annually, is it not time to consider alternatives? If our
council members, as our representatives, don't feel it is their
fight, then whose is it?