Nanaimo medical marijuana users are divided over Ottawa phasing out home-based medicinal pot production.
Health Canada is taking public input on a proposal to move require licensed commercial growers to produce and distribute all medical marijuana, cutting out home growers.
Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said it would reduce electrical fires that threaten the public and emergency workers, while removing a loophole allowing criminals to produce marijuana.
Marijuana would remain regulated under the Controlled Substance Act.
While expressing concerns about access to medical pot, user Gregory Twyman said criminals now use growing licences as a cover for illegal activities.
Nanaimo firefighters support changes that would reduce their risk of exposure to shock or burn hazards from grow-op fires.
"The majority of grow-ops, including those for medicinal purposes, are not up to (fire) code," said fire chief Ron Lambert.
Nanaimo RCMP and 'E' Division, the provincial headquarters, will not comment on matters of public policy.
Twyman has a Health Canada licence to grow up to 73 marijuana plants and while he seldom grows that many, it gives him access to marijuana for his severe arthritis. He makes clones from his plants at various stages of growth, producing new plants without seeds.
Twyman acknowledges the current system has problems.
"I've had guys come up to me and offer to buy my licence, and say: 'I'll give you 30 lights. I can make so much money, and I'll give you half,'" Twyman said.
Earlier this month RCMP arrested two Maple Ridge farmers licensed to grow 220 plants with more than 1,200 and considerable quantities of money alleged to be from the illegal sale of marijuana, which Twyman consides evidence change is needed. But he worries about the impact on home growers like him.
"I agree overall, but make it accessible for those of us who don't have a lot of money and depend on it," he said.
Others see the proposed changes as a step backward.
"If they take away people's licences it will just throw it back in the hands of criminals," said Richard Payne, of the Mid-Island Compassion Society.
Ottawa also proposes to remove a requirement for users to apply to Health Canada in order to possess dried marijuana. Instead, they would submit a doctor's note directly to a licensed commercial producer. The changes would take effect some time in 2012.
To learn more and comment, go to http://bit. ly/iza2ZF. Comment will be accepted up until July 31.
dbellaart@nanaimodailynews.com
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