Pubdate: Thu, 01 Sep 2011 Source: Langley Times (CN BC) Copyright: 2011 Langley Times Contact: http://www.langleytimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1230 Author: Eli Bryan Nelson PERSECUTION BY POLICE, POLITICIANS MUST STOP Editor: I am one of many non-users fed up with the persecution of medical marijuana outlets by police, and the endorsemen of this by local politicians. Clients of medical distribution centres come with a prescription and are referred by a doctor. Therefore, the police are subordinating a legal medical health concern to an arcane statute that continues to rob B.C. coffers of literally billions of dollars in untaxed revenue. The ridiculous, outmoded fear behind it all was recently underscored in an newspaper advertisement titled: "Get Paid to Grow Marijuana." This UBC seminar covers topics such as complying with laws and regulations for distribution for medical use. Police and politicians should not get away with using the defence that growers may get break-ins, etc., because that argument could then also be made to shut down pharmacies or even banks, who also are occasionally robbed for their wares. In the land of uncommon sense, many peaceable, non-criminal, ordinary citizens who enjoy an occasional smoke with friends, or know of it and do not disapprove, remain motionless, while the best possible usage of this natural herb is disallowed for those who need it most -- those with difficult to treat medical conditions. This bigotry is unacceptable. In the future, any political party or politician who gets my vote will have to speak to this untenable situation. Please find out and publish how and where citizens who care about this can support a proposed "clinic re-open" petition. Eli Bryan Nelson Langley City - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.