CLINICAL USE GROW OPS CONFUSING

Kelowna politicians will get a chance Monday to mull over whether
they're of the same mind as a growing number of their B.C.
counterparts regarding medicinal marijuana grow ops.

A movement to get rid of federally sanctioned grow ops gained momentum
recently, when Fraser Valley mayors decided to band together and point
out that they're a growing problem to the health and welfare of the
cities they're in.

Chilliwack's mayor took an aggressive stance in a provincial
publication and a letter from the mayors of the township of Langley
and the city of Langley landed in the city of Kelowna's mailbox, as
well as every other city in B.C.

"While we understand the rationale for providing the opportunity for
clinical use of marijuana, we must reinforce that it has resulted in
significant negative issues in our communities," reads the letter from
Langley mayors Peter Fassbender and Rick Green.

"It has created situations whereto neighbourhoods have become unsafe,
individual lives have been at risk and the overall cost to our local
governments have risen."

To solve the problem, they're calling on the federal government to
significantly change the way the marijuana program is
administered.

"We are simply asking that the current licenses be cancelled and that
any medicinal marijuana would in the future be dispensed through
licensed pharmacies by doctor's prescriptions," it read.

"As this is the practice for other controlled substances, such as
methadone, we do not see why this cannot be done for medical
marijuana. We also urge that the marijuana is dispensed be grown at a
government regulated facility."

That way, they counter, the quality and potency of the drug can be
maintained at appropriate levels.

The letter will be discussed at the Monday morning council meeting.