Dear Editor:
Re: Pot: Fed rules and city bylaws collide, Burnaby NOW, May 28.
I read with interest your Page 3 article on the collision between the proposed federal Marihuana for Medicinal Purposes Regulations (MMPR) and the Burnaby bylaw attempting to regulate the growing of medical marijuana for private use.
I do a bit of gardening but have never grown medical marijuana.
I have monitored this issue for some time. I served on the City of Burnaby community policing committee a few years ago and know that any city position on this matter is heavily influenced by the local RCMP - who has a vested interest in the prohibition of any substances other than alcohol.
The proposed federal changes to the MMPR have been ordered suspended by the courts.
In an attempt to prevent large scale marijuana industries springing up in Burnaby, the city rushed to enact its bylaw.
That is where the problem started as the city has clearly not taken the time required to study its position free from outside influences.
In fact, any city bylaw on this matter is simply premature.
If someone wants to grow marijuana for their personal medical use, under the existing law the city should take no more interest in their activities than they do for any person gardening or growing plants of any kind on their own property. I could care less if my neighbour raises her own small patch of marijuana plants or has a fine crop of geraniums growing. The city should also care less.
If the bylaw is intended to prevent anyone starting a commercial greenhouse growing marijuana - that is another thing. In that case only the bylaw should specifically be so limited by the city. They have no interest or need to be peering into people's backyards or checking out their greenhouses to attempt to restrict what plants are being grown for one's personal use.
Carl R. Dillon, Burnaby
