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Council urged to back medicinal pot movement

WHITE ROCK - The number of medical marijuana users in White Rock is expected to jump to 500 patients in six years - and that's why it's time for city council to throw its support behind decentralizing access to the drug.

 

That's the argument local advocate David Hutchinson made, recently appearing before council as a delegation. Representing the Canadian Medical Cannabis Partners, Hutchinson spoke of how White Rock currently has around 50 licensed users, but that number is expected to grow in the coming years as the use of medical marijuana expands.

 

"There's been exponential growth in the medical marijuana program," he said.

 

"While there were just 477 users in 2002, there are 50,000 for 2014 and an expected 500,000 for 2020, so this is not going away."

 

Hutchinson became active in the fight for medicinal marijuana after losing both his wife and daughter to cancer. His daughter, Beth, who passed away in October, had benefitted from using medicinal marijuana and he's now made it his goal to carry that message forward.

 

Hutchinson's plea comes as the federal government prepares to increase restrictions on current medical marijuana laws in April including no longer allowing users to grow their own and limiting the ways growers are able to produce cannabis.

 

The concerns are that the new policies will make it more expensive for users to get their hands on the much-needed medicine.

 

"We need more understanding in the community and I ask you to support the patients in your district."

 

To do so, Hutchinson urged council to put pressure on the premier and Ministry of Health to strike a task force to in turn lobby the feds for provincial control over the matter.

 

Council voted to receive the delegation's request but have yet to commit to coming out in favour of medical marijuana one way or another.

 

cpoon@thenownewspaper.com