Tuesday February 26, 2013 (Vol. 38 No. 17)
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Perched in first: Surrey Eagles were on top of their game this weekend, winning twice and adding a tie to secure first place in the BC Hockey League’s Mainland Division. › see page 21
IHIT investigating two more deaths
Medical-pot advocates protest proposed changes
Rally targets price bump
Charred remains found Kevin Diakiw Black Press
Sarah Massah Staff Reporter
Nearly a dozen medical marijuana advocates took to the streets outside South Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale MP Russ Hiebert’s constituency office Thursday morning. BC Cannabis Partners Campaign members David Hutchinson and Joy Davies were among the participants who braved the rain, bearing signs protesting the federal government’s new medicinal pot system, which they said would restrict availability to users ❝We just want to and raise prices. Under the new be able to afford the medication system – which that works for us.❞ the federal government hopes to Joy Davies fully implement advocate by March 31, 2014 – the government will no longer produce and distribute medicinal marijuana or allow production to take place in homes, “opening up the market to companies which meet strict security requirements,” a release states. However, Davies argued, by allowing the private sector to control the medicinal marijuana market, prices will rise. Currently, medicinal marijuana costs about $5 per gram. Under the proposed changes the price could rise to about $8.80 a gram. “We need to draw the attention to this and get changes made,” Davies said. “The new regulations are hurting us more than the old ones were.” The 64-year-old Semiahmoo Peninsula resident, who began using medicinal marijuana a decade ago following a car accident that left her with chronic fibromyalgia, said that without affordable access to see page 2
Sarah Massah photo
David Hutchinson (right) joins protesters outside MP Russ Hiebert’s South Surrey office Thursday, to voice concern over proposed changes to federal medicinal-marijuana regulations.
What’s your New Year’s resolution?
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Police are now investigating the eighth murder of the year in Surrey, following the discovery of charred remains just after noon Sunday near 121 Street and Colebrook Road. At press time Monday, police had not yet determined the race or gender of the remains. The discovery was made just two blocks from where the body of 26-year-old Jaskaran Singh Sandhu was found on Jan. 28, and just days after that of missing man Vimal Chand was found in a car near Hyland Elementary school, at 66 Avenue and 140 Street. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has taken conduct of both investigations. “Initial details and observations by the attending officers indicate that this is a homicide,” Cpl. Bari Emam said of the latest find. “We are only hours into this investigation and cannot confirm the gender or the identity of the victim.” The circumstances surrounding Chand’s death have also not been determined. The 29-year-old Surrey man was reported missing Feb. 17. His body was found Wednesday night. “This investigation is in the very early stages,” Emam said. Chand had a criminal record, but his sister told CBC News he was a family man who hadn’t been leading a high-risk lifestyle. Anyone with information regarding either homicide is asked to contact the IHIT tipline at 1-877551-IHIT(4448), or by email at ihittipline@rcmp-grc.gc.ca To remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or leave a tip on their website at Solvecrime.ca
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