DRUG GANGS, LEGAL COSTS AMONG MEDICAL POT CONCERNS

Until further notice from Health Canada or the federal justice
department, the Always Growing Green Society can keep dispensing its
medicinal marijuana from the small house on 224th Street.

RCMP Supt. Dave Walsh told Maple Ridge council Monday that's he's
checked with headquarters, RCMP lawyers, Health Canada and the
Department of Justice about the medicinal marijuana dispensary that
opened May 3, and that his detachment is still in "the consultation
and information-gathering stage."

Local police are waiting word from those agencies "to hear what, if
any action we'll take."

"Are they what they say they are?" Is the society only selling to
people who have a Health Canada licence for medical marijuana or is it
selling drugs to kids? he asked.

While Health Canada allows people to possess or grow pot for medical
use, there's no provision for selling it, said Walsh, and technically,
anyone who's doing so could be charged with trafficking.

Having said that, "It's up to the Department of Justice if [it's]
willing to prosecute and advance the case forward."

Walsh and Insp. Darren Lench appeared at council workshop to discuss
the surprise appearance of the club last week at 11696 - 224th St., in
an area the district is trying to rehabilitate.

It's a tough issue because 98 per cent of medicinal marijuana users
don't have a Health Canada licence, said Coun. Craig Speirs. Even
though, "people want to be able to be fully legal."

He wanted to know if police would lump in the dispensary with gang
drug operations and pointed out medicinal pot gives people who are
going through tough times an option to costly conventional drugs,
including the families of those who are sick and who are "trying to
manage some really, really horrible diseases."

"A lot of pharmaceuticals out there hurt you a lot, a lot and are very
addictive," Speirs said.

"It's a critical issue and the first time it's come to Maple Ridge and
we've really got to go forth with a whole-hearted discussion on this,
and not get too judgy."

All the district was trying to do was control the impact on Maple
Ridge, said Mayor Ernie Daykin.

"In fairness, there may have been a different approach, apart from
information gathering."

Coun. Mike Morden, though, worried more about the dangers of a violent
robbery on the premises from someone trying to get at the supplies. He
wanted to change the bylaw so council also could regulate non-profit
societies.

Bylaws director Brock McDonald told council that non-profit societies
don't need business licences. Trying to regulate non-profits would
require a separate bylaw, he said.

And the bylaws department cannot refuse to issue a business licence
even if it suspects criminal activity is going on, he said.

Coun. Cheryl Ashlie wondered if Health Canada could enforce its
regulations, which limit to three the number of people for whom an
individual can grow medicinal marijuana.

That's not a police matter, though, RCMP replied.

Part of the problem was the three-person limit for cultivation, Speirs
said. That guarantees that grow ops will be done in residential areas.
If cultivation of medicinal marijuana was allowed for a larger number
of patients, that could take place on a larger scale in agricultural
areas.

"He's breaking the law," by selling the marijuana, said
Ashlie.

"Do whatever you have to do to go after him. Because the law is the
law, no matter how sick you are or who you are."

The blame for the problem lies with the federal government, and that's
costing local government money in legal costs, for which they should
seek compensation, said Coun. Al Hogarth.

"You might as well legalize the stuff and get on with
it."

Coun. Judy Dueck concurred, saying the district has to work with the
other agencies.

Ashlie suggested the district address the issue in a resolution to be
worked out later and sent to next year's Federation of Canadian
Municipalities convention.

Speirs said he'll bring forward one in a few weeks. "To me, the ball
has been dropped by the federal government. We've been left to clean
up the mess."

District legal staff are preparing a report for council.