Banning medical-marijuana edibles bad for patients: B.C. civil rights group

VANCOUVER – A British Columbia civil rights group is asking the City of Vancouver to reconsider its plans to ban dispensaries from selling edible forms of medical marijuana.

The B.C. Civil Liberties Association says there are logistical challenges to regulation but that an outright ban would just transfer the problem to patients.

Vancouver is poised to pass precedent-setting policies that would require dispensaries to pay a $30,000 licensing fee and stay a minimum distance from schools and other pot shops.

The proposed regulations would allow for the sale of dried marijuana and pot oil, which the city says patients could use to make their own brownies and cookies, for example.

Councillors are set to decide on the controversial regulations tomorrow.

The vote follows four days of public hearings, which included presentations from more than 180 speakers.