cannabisnews.com: Legal Pot Available on Jan. 1 Legal Pot Available on Jan. 1 Posted by FoM on December 22, 2001 at 07:52:58 PT By Aaron Derfel, Montreal Gazette Source: Montreal Gazette Health Canada announced yesterday the first batch of medicinal marijuana will be available as of Jan. 1, and is of "good quality." The government will be contacting the more than 680 Canadians authorized to possess marijuana for medical purposes to determine whether they are interested in purchasing the weed. However, there are two questions that haven't been answered: the price, and how it will be distributed. "As far as any distribution plan is concerned, it will have to ensure three things: privacy of the patients, security and reliability," said a Health Canada source. "Price is something that is yet to be determined. The marijuana will be affordable, but it will depend on demand and the distribution mechanism."The government signed a deal last year with Prairie Plant Systems of Saskatoon to grow the marijuana in an underground mine in Flin Flon, Man. The company has harvested 185 kilograms for Jan. 1.During a visit to the mine last August, Health Minister Allan Rock said medicinal marijuana is justified on "compassionate grounds" for patients suffering from intolerable pain. The Canadian Medical Association, however, has argued against the policy, noting Health Canada has not yet approved marijuana as a drug.In the last couple of years, at least 10 "compassion clubs" have set up across the country, selling marijuana to patients. Pierre Hamel, a volunteer of the Compassion Club on Rachel St. in Montreal, said yesterday that he was pleased that there is now a legal supply."Basically, it's good news because some people will benefit from that," Hamel said. "It's a first step, but we have to go much further than that."Hamel noted that the federal marijuana contains 5 to 6 per cent THC - the active ingredient in cannabis - and that's too low for patients in great pain. The Compassion Club, for example, sell marijuana with THC levels as high as 17 per cent.Hamel urged Ottawa to allow compassion clubs to sell pot, saying they are the most willing and the most experienced.Source: Montreal Gazette (CN QU)Author: Aaron Derfel, Montreal GazettePublished: Saturday, December 22, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Gazette, a division of Southam Inc.Contact: letters thegazette.southam.caWebsite: http://www.montrealgazette.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Prairie Plant Systemshttp://www.prairieplant.com/ The Compassion Clubhttp://www.thecompassionclub.org/FTE's Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmFirst Batch of Government-Issue Marijuana Readyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11620.shtmlPharmacists Willing To Distribute Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10358.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by FoM on December 23, 2001 at 12:22:55 PT: herbdoc215 Thank you. It's ok to make me sad. I want to know when people hurt. That makes me all the more determined. I don't do email very much because it is so buggy but if you want to email me I'll put my email address in this post. I know I am aware of your situation but I have this built in way that I forget what I shouldn't know. That goes back to when I was in my late 20s. I knew if a person gets in trouble they ask them questions about other people so I have learned to not remember certain things. That might sound weird but I've done it for years. I remember after my son died I said to my husband I feel like this scripture. Without a vision a people perish. I think that's right but the point is my life was centered around my son for many years and when he was gone I didn't have any direction and then I got a computer and started learning about Cannabis and the laws against it but most of all I learned about it's medicinal benefits and that was the beginning of my new vision. I hope I have helped and I will help as long as I am able. I wish you Peace and hopefully freedom in the not too distant future. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by herbdoc215 on December 23, 2001 at 12:12:59 PT: The few always pay for the freedoms of many! FoM, You are a very special person and one of Gods warriors. Never believe for an instant that you do not enrich others lives. God choses those of us to carry burdens without our ever knowing why. Sorry to upset you, it's just nice to be able to vent to people who have not bought gov't bull and you remind me of whats best about America and why I'll always miss it. I grew for over 800 sick people like myself in Cali., it happened slowly one person at a time (I could never say no to the sick!) and enriched my life more than theirs. Also DEA got pissed when I gave Health Canada the seeds and ruined their plot against Canada. Only by us standing together can we all be free, if one of us is oppressed then we are all oppressed. Merry Christmas all. Steve Tuck, in exile [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on December 23, 2001 at 07:58:51 PT herbdoc215 I'm so sorry. Reading your comment upset me. I have a very powerful passion for people who are hurt and you have been. Christmas isn't a fun time for me but I try real hard to find joy for my husband during the holidays. My father died many years ago yesterday when I was 21 and my sons birthday would have been on the 19th and he would have been 35. Lucy is with you and that is the most important thing for you right now. I'm sure you did the right thing even though I'm not really sure of the details and I don't want you to put yourself in harms way by saying too much. This war on Cannabis is the most depressing and frustrating war that we have. I mean that too. Cannabis is a God Send. It shouldn't be treated this way. It has so many medicinal benefits and I'm tired of it being illegal. Lives, like yours, are hurt beyond repair over this fine plant and that is what makes it even harder. We'll keep hoping that peace in the war on Cannabis happens soon. God Bless you. I also believe I am on a mission. I think it is what I am suppose to do or I would stop but I can't because I would feel that I failed if I quit even though I get scared. A person tried to blow up a plane yesterday and Heaven knows what else will happen but our country is doomed. In a way you are able to have good memories but life isn't the same since 9-11 and the Republicans sure know how to take advantage of this tragic event. America is crying and freedom doesn't exist anymore but we are free in our minds. No one can take that fro [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by herbdoc215 on December 23, 2001 at 00:53:07 PT: I am sooooo Homesick!!!!!!!!!!! FoM, Hearing(reading really ha) you talk about cookies and christmas is nice but bittersweet as I miss my family so bad I can almost smell the cookies. The price I paid was high but I knew going in so I try not to cry about it. Anyway I would do it all over again as I am more proud of last few years running a cannabis center and helping others than of everything else I have done combined! To see others lives grow brighter made my pain less everyday and I also bought my soul back from military service. I am much more afaid of losing this good feeling about myself and life that I have gained than of dying or any old jail cell. If they do extradite me I will think everyday of a different persons face whose life we touch and I would wear it like a sheild of glory as I believe that we were doing the lords work and no man hold any fear for me. Sounds corney I know but those folks just needed love and someone to care on top of the weed we performed miricles in some beautiful folks lives and I'll never believe that was wrong come what may. You and your family be safe and have a merry christmas and me and Lucy Mae will say a prayer for you. Steve [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on December 22, 2001 at 19:46:31 PT freedom fighter Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too. I'm glad your like the harmony and tolerance that we have here. It hasn't been easy but all of you have made it happen. We all want a place where people respect each others opinions even if they aren't our own. I think we are making that happen. I mind infighting. I really do. Maybe it is because it makes me feel icky and I don't like feeling that way. Life is too short to spend it fighting with people. I find that the best way to avoid fights is to say nothing. No one bothers or upsets me then. I enjoyed going shopping today because the only time I've been away is when my husband has a doctor or hospital appointment. Listening to Christmas Music and eating fresh baked soft pretzels and seeing families shopping for gifts together did me good. I bought myself something I've never had. I feel silly but it was there and said buy me so I did. I got a Lava Light! I never had one so I'll be staring at this tonight I'm sure for a while. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by freedom fighter on December 22, 2001 at 16:30:36 PT Wishing everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!THANKS TO FoM for a site that promote harmony and tolerance.\/ ff [ Post Comment ] Post Comment