A local man who requires medical marijuana to help him deal with the pain caused by the affects of HIV/AIDS would like to see a "pot dispensary" opened in Abbotsford.
Jason Wilcox was diagnosed with the illness in 1993, and started using marijuana shortly afterward as an alternative to the highly addictive drugs he was being prescribed for pain.
He said using pot for pain is simply about "holistic health care."
Since moving to Abbotsford to be closer to family, Wilcox said the commute to access weed from a compassion club dispensary in Vancouver is proving arduous.
He pled his case to the Abbotsford Police Board Tuesday afternoon.
Wilcox said many Fraser Valley residents who suffer from pain due to chronic illnesses are turning to illegal sources to procure pot rather than make the trek to Vancouver and access it through approved dispensaries.
"What I'm putting forward to Abbotsford is that we would like to open a [compassion club] dispensary here. We would like to do it in a most transparent way working in conjunction with the city and authorities.
"We have a co-op of people here who we believe could present a proper, constructive club that will be able to not only dispense cannabis, but be able to educate people as well."
Wilcox said very few people entitled to medical marijuana actually use government-regulated weed, preferring instead to go through compassion clubs - or buy it on the street - because the government-grade pot just doesn't cut it.
Abbotsford Mayor George Peary said it is an issue for the federal government, and thinks the police board is not the proper avenue to use to broach the subject, adding he doubts Wilcox would find any sympathetic ears for his cause on city council.
"Access to medical marijuana through dispensaries is quite controlled. I think the concern they have is using it without being seen as criminals, and I don't know if that has been an issue. Certainly no one has ever raised that as an issue to me."
Peary said he had received information from a local pharmacist, and planned on pursuing it further with the local medical fraternity.
"I think sometimes the individuals who are using medical marijuana aren't happy with the quality of marijuana available to them through a regulated supplier. That's an issue for them and the federal government."
Peary said he would never encourage anyone to acquire marijuana illegally.
News Hawk: MsRedEye: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Abbotsford Mission Times
Author: Rafe Arnott
Copyright: 2009 Abbotsford Times
Contact: About | canada.com
Website: Marijuana patien' wants pot dispensary
Jason Wilcox was diagnosed with the illness in 1993, and started using marijuana shortly afterward as an alternative to the highly addictive drugs he was being prescribed for pain.
He said using pot for pain is simply about "holistic health care."
Since moving to Abbotsford to be closer to family, Wilcox said the commute to access weed from a compassion club dispensary in Vancouver is proving arduous.
He pled his case to the Abbotsford Police Board Tuesday afternoon.
Wilcox said many Fraser Valley residents who suffer from pain due to chronic illnesses are turning to illegal sources to procure pot rather than make the trek to Vancouver and access it through approved dispensaries.
"What I'm putting forward to Abbotsford is that we would like to open a [compassion club] dispensary here. We would like to do it in a most transparent way working in conjunction with the city and authorities.
"We have a co-op of people here who we believe could present a proper, constructive club that will be able to not only dispense cannabis, but be able to educate people as well."
Wilcox said very few people entitled to medical marijuana actually use government-regulated weed, preferring instead to go through compassion clubs - or buy it on the street - because the government-grade pot just doesn't cut it.
Abbotsford Mayor George Peary said it is an issue for the federal government, and thinks the police board is not the proper avenue to use to broach the subject, adding he doubts Wilcox would find any sympathetic ears for his cause on city council.
"Access to medical marijuana through dispensaries is quite controlled. I think the concern they have is using it without being seen as criminals, and I don't know if that has been an issue. Certainly no one has ever raised that as an issue to me."
Peary said he had received information from a local pharmacist, and planned on pursuing it further with the local medical fraternity.
"I think sometimes the individuals who are using medical marijuana aren't happy with the quality of marijuana available to them through a regulated supplier. That's an issue for them and the federal government."
Peary said he would never encourage anyone to acquire marijuana illegally.
News Hawk: MsRedEye: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Abbotsford Mission Times
Author: Rafe Arnott
Copyright: 2009 Abbotsford Times
Contact: About | canada.com
Website: Marijuana patien' wants pot dispensary
