Walk into any government liquor store or neighbourhood beer and wine store and it is evident that alcohol is as popular as ever. As the weather gets hotter, more and more residents can be seen leaving these establishments with, at best, casual summer libations and, at worse, evidence of their drinking addictions.
At corner convenience stores, customers come in every day to buy cigarettes clearly marked that the carcinogenic products cause lung cancer.
Pharmacies sell doctor-prescribed pharmaceutical drugs, many of which have addictive properties and negative side effects.
And, down the street, a medical marijuana dispensary, unable to obtain a business licence, is forced to sell its products under threat from government and police.
What is wrong with this picture?
Marijuana legalization is one of the most non-polarizing social issues in Canada. Our federal government has promised imminent legalization, provincial health care began administering and prescribing marijuana medicinals and community leaders nationwide have come out in favour of decriminalizing pot.
It is safe to say that the majority of Powell River residents support the legalization of medicinal marijuana, and that’s in line with the rest of the country.
Chances are, every resident of Powell River knows at least one person who has started using pot for medicinal purposes.
The question remains: why are federal, provincial and municipal laws not reflecting the standards of its people? If the majority of Canadians want marijuana legalized, then why are we still having this discussion?
Of course marijuana dispensaries should be applying for business licences and following the same protocol and rules as other businesses selling medicine. But some cities, including City of Powell River, have made it clear that business licences for dispensaries will not be forthcoming.
Surely the city can find a way to do what other BC cities such as Victoria and Port Alberni have already done and regulate licenced dispensaries.
Dispensaries are no different than many other local businesses already selling legal drugs. Medicinal properties aside, why are we holding onto this notion that pot is any different?
Jason Schreurs, publisher/editor
