Editor, The News:
Re: A few bad seeds (bclocalnews.com).
The letters of J. Davies and Pat Petrala made excellent points on what should be of genuine importance to all Canadians that care about health care.
Your superb editorial highlights the importance of this medical topic when, generally, the discussion surrounds decriminalizing or legalization here or in the U.S.
However, it is the health aspects that must be properly managed with an aging and sick population.
People are increasingly aware that cannabis can assist myriad medical conditions, and the number of registered patients through Health Canada doubled between February and October last year.
Unfortunately, our federal government insists on scaring the population and proposing awful legislation that will penalise the sick and dying.
People should read the 'Marijuana for medical purposes regulations,' published in the federal government's Canada Gazette page, Dec. 15, to appreciate how badly this is being managed and why they can expect to hear more from sick people during the current consultation period.
If this legislation becomes law, this is how it will look. Think of the analogy of feeding your family. Imagine being told that the law was changing next year and you could no longer grow vegetables in your own garden and then cook a meal in your kitchen. From 2014, that right would be removed and you would have to eat out at large commercial restaurants three times a day. No snacking between meals for recreational use.
The government will ensure the food provided and the sanitary conditions in the kitchen will be of the highest standard. Oh, by the way, the cost is many times higher than it is now and more expensive than the black market. I hope that anyone in your household that needs food can still afford to eat.
Welcome to the Orwellian reality of what medical marijuana patients face.
David Hutchinson
Surrey