Toronto's debate over medical marijuana, dispensaries pushed back to October

The debate to review the City of Toronto's approach to medical marijuana and dispensaries waspushed back Monday until October, as onecity councillorslammed recent police raids on dispensaries as a waste of taxpayers'money.

The municipal licensing and standards committeewas expected to reviewregulations on Monday governing medical marijuana use and the proximity of dispensaries to schools,

But now that won't happenuntilafter the federal government revises its own regulations on the issue later this year.

Monday's meeting follows a series of police raids onpot dispensaries across Toronto.

"That was money that was not well-spent," saidCoun. Jim Karygiannis, who was joined by medicalmarijuanaadvocatesbefore the committeemeeting.

"It was a knee-jerk reaction because of a couple hundred emails."

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Michael McLellan, who represents theToronto Dispensaries Coalition, said he wants to see a "collaborative approach" as an alternative to enforcement action.

"We're wanting to start a dialogue today," McLellan said, adding he wants to see "safe and open" marijuana access for those who need it.

"Let's start a conversation," Karygiannis said. "Stakeholders need to be at the table."

Pot for patients

On Friday, CBC News reported 23 people were arrested in police raids of four marijuana dispensaries, prompting potadvocates to speak out against those actions.

"I have a lot of respect for the police chief and the way he thinks," the councillor said, but added that when it comes to the raids,"we don't see eye-to-eye."

Medical marijuana userJesse Beardsworth spoke out in support of marijuana dispensaries.

"I feel very strongly about patients' rights," she said.

In May, Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders noted that any dispensary claiming to be distributing marijuana to give access to patientsare doing so to make money.

"They are distributing for monetary gain, let's make no mistake about it," said Saunders.

"If they're very concerned about the well-being of people, then I would expect that they would look at the regulatory processes, have a standardization of how it's being manufactured and distributed, identify what the quantity of THC is in the product and also be able to validate through quality control that [it]is, in fact, correct."

Only facilities recognized by Health Canada are legally allowed to distribute medical marijuana and must do so via courier,the city'sdirector ofinvestigation services for municipal licensing and standards said in May. As the law is currently written, medical marijuana dispensaries are not permitted in Toronto.

No to LCBO?

Last December, Ontario Premier KathleenWynnesaid the government-operatedLCBOis a solid option forlegalmarijuana distribution.

"It makes sense to me that the liquor distribution mechanism that we have in place theLCBO is very well-suited to putting in place the social responsibility aspects that would need to be in place."

Karygiannisacknowledgedhe wants to see a plan that ensures patients can readily access marijuanawhile keeping it away from children.

"If it's an LCBO [framework], it goes to the province and it's province-wide regulated," the councillor said.

McLellanurged policymakers to rule out theLCBOas a viableoption for marijuana distributionbecause of the apparent dangers of mixing alcohol and marijuana.

"[It] doesn't make a lot of sense,"hesaid.

Federal government legislation on the legalization of marijuana is expected to be made public by next spring following a campaign promise by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.