Editor: After reading Superintendent Derek Cooke鈥檚 submission to The Times (Aug. 23), headlined 鈥淢any problems with 91原创 dispensary,鈥� I felt compelled to write and dispel some of the misconceptions contained in his letter.
When the 91原创 Medical Marijauna Dispensary (LMMD) opened two years ago, it employed some admittedly questionable operating practices. However in the past year, the dispensary has evolved into a safe and convenient place for patients to receive their dosage.
In his letter, Supt. Cooke says 鈥淭here was no requirement that conventional treatment for the customer鈥檚 ailment had been tried, or even considered.鈥�
This is misleading, as it is not a Health Canada requirement and normally doctors always do recommend conventional treatments prior to suggesting alternatives, such as marijuana.
Supt. Cooke suggested in his letter that the dispensary was serving anyone and not limiting its sales to people with a genuine medical need. This is not true. Patients who utilized the dispensary had forms signed by their doctors to support their use of medical marijuana. If paperwork from their doctor supporting their medical exemption was not completed, their membership was suspended.
In addition, many of 91原创 MMD clients have their Health Canada MMAR (Medical Marijauna Access Regulations) license number and are authorized to grow their own supply, but used the dispensary as an alternative.
I find it ironic that in his letter, the superintendent suggested that people who have a license should grow their own supply, when in March of this year he denounced legal 鈥榞rows鈥� as a real headache for local RCMP.
鈥淭here have been several invasions and armed robberies of these legal marijuana farms over the past year,鈥� he said.
Supt. Cooke expressed concern that 鈥渃ustomers鈥� were not screened for having a criminal record. This implies that the patients utilizing the dispensary may have been, for the most part, criminals. A criminal records check is not a requirement by Health Canada, nor should it be.
However, as a result of the closure, 91原创 MMD patients are again forced to make connections with those (criminals?) who would put their health and safety at risk.
In so many ways, 91原创 has stepped up to make the community a safe and secure place to live, work and play 鈥� until now. Patients of the 91原创 Medical Marijuana Dispensary are members of this community and they are entitled to feel safe and secure. And it is up to Supt. Cooke and the local RCMP to uphold Supreme Court of Canada rulings that allow dispensaries to operate.
Delila Poore,
91原创
