Header 2- Post 14
To All Licensed Growers of
Medical Marijuana
And
Anyone Wanting to Become
One
Please pay very close
attention.
The post
that follows this introduction is an e-mail I just sent to a whole collection
of Mayors across the country. I suggest you read it because it dumps the whole
legal growth of Medical Marijuana right where it belongs, into the municipal
area of control.
It’s very
long because there’s a lot to say, but all in all it adds up to one simple
question.
“Is there
any municipality in Canada that has a by-law structure that will permit the legal
growth of Medical Marijuana within its borders?”
I can’t
wait to find out so I let her rip! Enjoy a plain speaking question and a ???
response. Just like fishing, you never know what’s going to’ happen!
Post # 14 - One Simple Question for the
Mayor- How Can I Get Legal?
To the
Attention of Mayor Dianne Watts, Surrey BC
CC: 35 Mayors across Canada
plus a couple of newspapers who might be interested in the response: see
distribution list following:
Subject: Medical
Marijuana- A Problem with City Hall
Dear Mayor Watts:
To begin:
I have copied this e-mail
to numerous other mayors & Councillors because this is not just a Surrey problem
but a national one. I am requesting all of the recipients to comment criticize
or point out obstacles to granting my request at the conclusion of this
message. I suggest you all pay attention because as soon as I sent this letter
it was posted on my blog for all to see.
Too bad the letter is
so long but I’ve got a lot to say and I’ve had my fill of the anti-Medical
Marijuana arguments. I am simply pointing out as a lot of stupidity, the
failure of local governments to be able to license and control what in effect
is a garden to produce a legal crop.
I am a Senior Canadian Citizen,
a 20 year Surrey resident, and one of your supporters. I have addressed
this to you, because you are my mayor and the only one who can help me in this
matter.
Suddenly you have
become an enemy. You’re my mayor and after some Googling I find you spouting
Garis garbage and that you are fully aware of his Posse Comitatus actions.
Consequently I don’t
understand what your position is with regard to Medical Marijuana. Are you in
favour of it or are you one of my opponents? I don’t understand where you are
coming from or if you can be trusted. It boils down to a “Will you try to help
me or not?” question.
I have possessed a
License to Possess Marijuana for three years now and suddenly because of Chief Len
Garis leading his Marijuana Posse Comitatus in an epidemic of home invasions
looking for Grow-ops, my Licensed Designated Grower is going out of business
because of fear of a bunch of Len’s goddamned vandals invading his home.
You people have really outdone
yourself this time; you are abusing your authority and victimizing one of the
best of the very few compassionate growers in Canada. It took me a year and a half to find him because of
Health Canada’s obsession with Privacy and Secrecy. He and his wife have
been Licensed for seven years and have been the reliable source of very cheap, high
quality marijuana for a number of patients, most of whom are now dead. They
have a small operation that is a model of technology and efficiency and they
have a lot of money invested in providing what is in effect medication for
people who can’t afford to, but must, buy it on the street. Those two have more
compassion than the whole collective lot of you.
The source of the
problem is Health Canada’s failure to provide an easily accessible source of
marijuana at a price level within the reach of the people it was designed for.
Currently these are now about 10000 people who are sick and tired at the bottom
of the income scale. The legal price of $5 a gram was set by Health Canada ten years ago and most Licensees can’t afford that price
now. A minimum dose of 1 gram per day costs $150 a month = $1800 a year. That is very hard pry out of a budget based on
Pension Income and Welfare. The maximum pension income (for an old fart on maximum
disability) runs about $18000 a year and the poverty line now is about $21000.
If you’re young and sick it’s hopeless and welfare.
I have a problem that
is the end result of a long crusade by Surrey Fire
Chief Garis to purify Canada by eradication of Marijuana Grow-ops. For years he has
adamantly opposed the growth of Marijuana on a national scale and has been
instrumental in mounting enough pressure to force the Government to conduct a
revision of the MARIHUANA MEDICAL ACCESS
REGULATIONS
that is currently
underway.
I don’t have a problem
with what the Harper government is proposing for the majority of the review
because whatever they dream up will be overregulated and impossible to
implement: Jets and Gaols are prime examples.
My only problem is that for some strange
reason they are proposing the elimination of Class C and D licenses and intend
to terminate all Personal and Designated Growth of Marijuana. Henceforth
the only legal marijuana is to be from Contracts for the Commercial production
and sale of pot. Details to be announced.
Bullshit. Then we are
looking at $15 a gram minimum. It’s all about money.
I was fortunate to run
across a Health Canada declaration of what they were proposing and their
justifications for the review. These are aimed directly at the elimination of
all licensed legal growth of Medical Marijuana. They are an almost verbatim
regurgitation of Chief Garis 2009 report to the Senate: Combating Canada’s Marijuana Grow Industry- Stronger Penalties and other
Deterrents.
These are the hazards
found during raids on major drug operations:
- Criminal crop diversion,
- Code violations,
- Fire hazards ,
- Safety hazards,
- Threat of home invasion,
- Public safety,
- Hazardous to children.
These same elements
were stressed over and over and over again. They were the main points made by
Charles Momy, President of the Canadian Police Association in his report to
justify C-15 and mandatory minimum sentencing for major criminal activities and
aggravating factors.
Chief Garis really
should apply for a spin doctor job with the Harper team. He is a master at
distorting reality to create prejudice. Marijuana was a minor inclusion in his report
and address to the Senate did not include much about it. It is a distorted presentation
in support at Bill C-15 and mandatory minimums for Major crimes involving gangs,
violence, and the drug trade etc. His presentation cited evidence gained from experience
not so much as a Fire Chief but rather the biased opinion of a wannabe cop
bragging about his record of drug busts with additional elements to add some
colour. What the hell was relevance of somehow
linking marijuana to the sex trade and prostitution? None, but it sure grabs
your attention.
The Law and Order group
have now had their way and passed C-10 and slammed in minimum sentences for
growing marijuana in any quantity. The problem for me is that with Chief Garis
help the seven main reasons given for the maximum punishment of major criminal
activity have suddenly been transformed into the main reasons for the
elimination of all Personal and Designated Growth of Medical Marijuana. What
evidence does he present over and over in condemnation of Medical Marijuana?”
They were the main
points made by Charles Momy! I don’t think these are acceptable reasons. They
are plagiarism from an unrelated issue!
Personal and Designated
Growth is now the only good provision
of the MARIHUANA MEDICAL ACCESS
REGULATIONS and it’s worth saving.
Now with Chief Garis
help and urging, the Harper government is proposing eliminating it.
That is my problem.
The problem with Chief
Garis experience is that every bust he has ever made has been of an illegal
Grow-op. There are no legal Medical Marijuana grow-ops in Surrey to bust
because of the obstinacy, prejudice and short sighted tunnel vision exhibited
by every municipality in this country.
The Chief has no idea
what a properly constructed and run Medical Marijuana Grow Operation even looks
like, he’s never seen one.
Surrey is no different than any other municipality that I know of
in that there is no way to become legal as a grower. At this point in
time I am legally allowed to grow pot
in Canada. I am legally
allowed to grow pot in British
Columbia but in Surrey, my place
of residence, my grow-op is illegal.
If Les finds out I have
a grow op it doesn’t matter that it is my legal medication or how pure and
efficient the grow op is: it’s going to be destroyed and that is totally
stupid. It is far better to know that a legal grow op is in operation and that
it meets all the Municipal Codes and that it’s no hazard to anyone. If it does
there is no problem: but if it does pose a hazard in the least possible way
there are serious financial penalties and it’s gone.
PAY
ATTENTION. THIS IS MY PROBLEM WITH ALL OF YOU
I have a
problem related to the current by-law structure in every municipality in Canada. You mayors are in control of that level of government and
I want you to answer one simple question regarding your by-law structure.
To my knowledge there
is no way to present my grow op for inspection to any of you, be in complete
code compliance and, if I pass, get it approved.
I want to
keep my Designated Grower. I want to get him legal, in compliance with Code,
and free from an anxiety attack every time the door gets rapped. There is no
way to do so. I would like to go to city hall ask for an inspection of a grow
op located at xxx address. No way! Inspection is no problem, the facility will
pass code but at this point there is no way to ask for approval because the
Swat team will have destroyed my crop by the time I get home, the fine already
written and handcuffs waiting. Nobody in my circle trusts City Hall, Les, or
the cops and there is no reason to do so after the way you currently deal with
us.
Mayor
Watts, and every mayor copied:
How can I
get permission for my Federally Licensed, Provincially permitted growth of
Medical Marijuana to take place in your municipality?
I think I
have a right to grow it where I reside free from the local vigilantes.
Cut me some slack and
provide a way to simply become legal without a lifetime prison record.
Mayor
Watts, instead of keeping Les busy beating the bush trying to find grow ops,
why don’t you just invite all Licensed growers to turn them selves in?
Call a
cease fire, declare an amnesty, and create a way for Licensed Growers to get
legal without penalty. If they voluntarily come in, grant them immunity and a
90 day grace period to get up to code. Remember the poverty level of those who
you’re dealing with: in exchange for doing so waive any inspection fees or
fines for code violation and keep your license fee low for an approval to
operate. From our point of view, a $500 license fee is preferable to a $1500
fine for a phoney code violation but with you lot, the fine apparently is more
important than simply and amicably eliminating the hazard.
Instead
of punishing Licensees by attacking their whole supply and pressing the
Government to eliminate all Personal and Designated Growth, why don’t you show
some common sense and simply accommodate it. There is no need for Federal
involvement in the matter but they created my legal right to grow my
supply. From there on it’s within your
power to dictate what I must do to legally grow in your city. When I get my
license from Ottawa you can control its safe implementation by requiring that
before I do grow anything, I get an inspection, approval and peace of mind from
the city. Induce compliance by making this as cheap as possible, and you’re
gaining control over a potential hazard to your community and as a bonus you will
have one grateful constituent instead of a victim! What goes around comes
around. That is common sense.
By copy
to all recipients please give me your reaction to the idea.
Does your
system in any way accommodate the legal growth of Medical Marijuana?
Yes or
No?
Please advise because I can almost guarantee there are some of your people in the same situation as I am. If any of you do have a procedure to legally grow then I intend to spread the word to reach them so they can apply without fear. I also intend to notify those who don’t have any escape clause exactly who is responsible for the omission. This letter has already been posted and follow ups will be posted in my Blog for everybody to see.
Medical Marijuana with TheSmeeGoanGuy
Don’t be chicken click on it and find out what’s going on down at the receiving level.
There have been enough Privacy, Secrecy and underhanded tactics to date and unfortunately it’s the exposure of lies that make up most of the blog contents.
I want to
save the legal growth of Medical Marijuana. If all of you exercise your
authority and take control of legal growth, there is no reason for Mr. Harper
to turn all growth into a prison term and maybe he can just for once have pity
on the bottom of the food chain. With some collective common sense shown by
you, he might back off.
In anticipation
of all of your replies
Blaine Barrett
255,
10202-149St.,
Surrey BC V3R 3Z8
Distribution:
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Surrey Council
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Mayor Dianne Watts
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Surrey Council
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Surrey Council
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Surrey Council
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Surrey Council
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Surrey Council
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Surrey Council
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Surrey Council
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Surrey Council
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BC Mayors
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Parksville
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Pitt Meadows
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Whistler
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Princeton
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Nanaimo
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Portalberni
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Burnaby
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Abbotsford
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Prince George
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Spallumcheen
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Mapleridge
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Richmond
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Delta
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Ladysmith
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Hope
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White Rock
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New Westminster
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North Vancouver
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North Vancouver
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City Mayors
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St. Johns
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Vancouver
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Ottawa
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Halifax
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Victoria
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Toronto
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Calgary
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Press Release
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Newspaper
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To the Attention of
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Newsroom
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St. John's Telegram
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Newsroom
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Globe and Mail
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J. Borra, Executive
Editor,
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The Kitchener Record
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Lynn Haddral,l Editor-in-Chief
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Newsroom
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theprovince
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Wayne Moriarty, Editor-in-chief
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Lethbridge Herald
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C. Campbell, General
Manager
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Edmonton Journal |
L. Chodan - Editor-in-chief
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Calgary Herald
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Lorne Motley, Editor-in-chief
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Vancouver Sun
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H. Munro, Deputy
Managing Editor
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The Georgia Straight
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Charlie Smith, Editor
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The Tyee
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David Beers, Editor
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Strings-Mayors
Councillor
Marvin Hunt, Councillor Mary Martin, Councillor
Barinder Rasode, Councillor
Barbara Steele
fthomas@princeton.ca,
john.ruttan@nanaimo.ca,
john_douglas@portalberni.ca,
mayor.corrigan@burnaby.ca
mayor@abbotsford.ca,
mayor@city.pg.bc.ca,
mayor@spallumcheentwp.bc.ca,
mayorandcouncil@mapleridge.ca
mayorandcouncillors@richmond.ca,
mayor-council@corp.delta.bc.ca,
rhutchins@ladysmith.ca,
sjohnston@hope.ca,
Press
wmoriarty@theprovince.com,
ccampbell@abnewsgroup.com,
lchodan@edmontonjournal.com,
lmotley@calgaryherald.com,
