CLEARING THE AIR

On 'Pot' Course

The halls of higher learning are not going to pot.

The introduction by Malaspina University-College's Cowichan campus of a
course studying the numerous ins and outs of the medical marijuana laws is
not leading us on the road to perdition.

Lack of information is one of the greatest barriers to knowledge.
Introduction of this course at the Cowichan campus should be seen as
enlightenment.

Medical marijuana is legal in Canada, under the right conditions. However,
few people understand the bureaucratic system under which they can legally
use this otherwise illegal substance.

The federal government has a program of growing medical pot in a mine in
northern Manitoba. But, how people can access this "medicine", how they can
get prescriptions, still remains a mystery to many people.

Don't expect a rash of marijuana farming operations to begin springing up
as a result of the university course. As a matter of fact, it could have
the opposite effect. If it is legally available, and easily accessible,
fewer medical users will likely have to opt for the illegal product.

Cowichan campus principal Carrie Nelson accepts that it is controversial
but that shouldn't stop the school from dealing with the issue.

There really is a need for this information, much the same as when topics
like acupuncture were first brought to light a number of years ago amid
dire warnings of where we were headed.

The one-day course is being taught by Eric Nash and Wendy Little, licensed
medical marijuana growers in the Cowichan Valley. Nash says the Health
Canada program isn't going to go away, so questions will continue to come
in about it and there really is a need for this information.

Remember, it's information that's being given out in the course, not the
secrets of how to grow the stuff.