Rona Ambrose, canada’s health minister says dispensaries normalize marijuana use

Health Minister Rona Ambrose made a public challenge to Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson on Friday over the city’s plans to regulate its marijuana dispensaries, saying the city has no jurisdiction to do so.

“I am deeply concerned by reports that the City of Vancouver intends to discuss a proposal to regulate illegal drug dispensaries at an upcoming Council meeting,” said Ambrose

Throughout the letter, Minister Ambrose reiterates her concern and suggests that regulating marijuana dispensaries will only normalize the use and sale of pot and in effect, lead to an increase in drug use and addiction.

“Legitimizing and normalizing marijuana could mean more than tripling its use by youth,” said Ambrose.

In addition, Ambrose suggested that increased marijuana use poses serious health risks, especially for youth.

“The evidence is clear that when youth smoke marijuana they have increased risks of developing mental health issues, including psychosis and schizophrenia,” said Ambrose. “We also know that regular, long-term marijuana use in youth can harm concentration, memory, and the ability to think and to make decisions, and it can also produce paranoia and anxiety or nervousness.”

Although marijuana for medical purposes is legal when granted authorization by a physician, Minister Ambrose states that Vancouver’s proposal to regulate medical marijuana businesses is venturing into the “grey zone” of legality.

“The law is clear that [access to medical marijuana] must be done in a controlled fashion to protect public health and safety. These regulations are clear and do not provide municipalities with the authority to legitimize the commercial sale of marijuana, which remains an illegal substance. Storefronts and dispensaries do not operate within a “grey zone,” and the law is clear: they are illegal,” said Ambrose.

Minister Ambrose letter is in regards to the recent proposal put forward by Vancouver City Council to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries.

“There are now over 80 confirmed marijuana-related businesses in the city operating without a business licence and the total number has grown at a rate of 100 per cent per year for the past two years,” stated the report that will go before City Council next week.

Agencies/Canadajournal