cannabisnews.com: Most 'Medical' Marijuana Use Illegal: Poll





Most 'Medical' Marijuana Use Illegal: Poll
Posted by FoM on February 03, 2002 at 08:06:16 PT
By Jack Aubry, The Ottawa Citizen 
Source: Ottawa Citizen 
More than a million Canadians are breaking the law by smoking marijuana for medicinal purposes, and it appears it's mostly because they haven't paid close attention to the recent changes in the law, a government poll reveals.A recent national survey conducted by Pricewaterhouse-Coopers for Health Canada, shows that more than four per cent of the population over the age of 15 is using medicinal marijuana without permission from the government.
The poll report says the percentage represents about one million Canadians, even though only 300 permits allowing the use of medicinal marijuana have been issued by the government since 1999."This implies that individuals are using marijuana for medicinal purposes without appropriate exemptions from Ottawa, leaving them open to prosecution for possession," the report concludes.The use of medicinal marijuana remains illegal without a permit. Under legislation passed in 1999, Canadians who have a severe illness or who are expected to die within the year can possess marijuana after obtaining a licence from Health Canada.But the poll reveals that the Canadian public is mostly ignorant about the new law.More than 70 per cent of Canadians reported they thought marijuana was legal for possession in Canada for medicinal purposes. Only an additional three per cent stipulated it was legal only with an exemption from the government.Andrew Swift, a spokesman for Health Canada, said the recent poll findings are still being examined and no reaction was yet available from the department.Mostly anecdotal evidence supports the efficacy of marijuana for medicinal purposes, including claims of appetite creation, relaxation, pain relief and aiding sleep. The report points out that clinical research is only now testing the medical benefits of the drug.However, the poll shows that about 70 per cent of Canadians already believe there is already valid evidence to support the use of medicinal marijuana.The poll also shows that an overwhelming 85 per cent of Canadians feel marijuana should be made available for medicinal use under specific conditions.The report concludes that the strong support by Canadians for medicinal marijuana "may be due" to the high proportion of individuals who feel there is sufficient evidence to support medicinal marijuana use. Even without scientific evidence, the poll shows almost one-third of the Canadian population supports the outright legalization of marijuana for personal use, either for medical or recreational purposes.The report points out that the reported support in the poll on legalizing the drug is substantially lower than other previous reports, which has placed support between 47 per cent and 69 per cent.In August 2000, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled in the case of Terry Parker that the new marijuana legislation violates the rights of sick people by forcing them to choose between health and imprisonment.Mr. Swift said the poll was conducted in October and November, but he could not provide the margin of error or cost to the government for the large-sample survey.The poll found that males and younger individuals were more likely to report the use of medicinal marijuana, with 6.3 per cent of those between the ages of 15 and 24 saying they had."Health status was also a factor; those who reported being in poor or fair health (12.2 per cent) or having a chronic illness (5.5 per cent) were also more likely to report medicinal marijuana use," said the report."Individuals with an addiction to drugs or alcohol were 5.9 times more likely to report this type of marijuana use."Provincially, the highest use of medicinal marijuana was in Alberta, with 7.8 per cent reporting, and British Columbia, at 6.7 per cent.Meanwhile, Manitoba had the lowest reported usage at three per cent, slightly behind Ontario, at 3.3 per cent and Quebec, at 3.5 per cent.Note: One million Canadians say they smoke up 'for health reasons'; Only 300 permits issued. Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)Author: Jack Aubry, The Ottawa Citizen Published: Sunday, February 03, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Ottawa CitizenContact: letters thecitizen.southam.caWebsite: http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/Related Articles & Web Site:Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmMedical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmSuffering Few Who Legally Possess Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11135.shtml Canada Goes To Pot - We Should Follow http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10487.shtml
END SNIP -->
Snipped
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #5 posted by p4me on February 03, 2002 at 10:12:53 PT
lie or misrepresentation of fact
If Dr. Russo commented he could give this following website that was constructed to be a gathering place for scientific study. Of course if there were no scientific study the website would be blank. Go there and see if it is blank. And how could the Reagan Administration destroy studies of MJ if they had not been done. At best this is just bad journalism and at worst another lie. Besides that if the government didn't misclassify MJ as a Schedule 1 substance there would be more specific breeding to treat exact illnesses.
http://www.cannabis-med.org/english/home.htmThere is also the argument going that MJ is legal in Canada anyway. I cannot remember the exact dates, but sometime about Labor Day in 2000 the Supreme Court said the government had one year to straighten out the mess concerning MMJ. Of course the fact that only 300 people have made it through the screwed up revision is evidence that that the government failed to follow the Supreme Court directive and therefore there are no valid laws on MJ period. There is a lone maverick that has done wonders for the cause named Turmel. He is absolutely awesome and his website is http://www.medpot.net/Besides that there is a severe cut back in government spending in Canada with budget cuts of 25% in British Columbia and a 50% reduction in the judicial system in BC with 24 courthouses closing. And of course most Canadians have enough sense to not be paranoid about anything cannabis like the right-wing Christians do in this country.If you read very much about it, it is hard not to be sad about the sorry state of affairs in the law with MJ and in particular MMJ. All I know to do is vote against anyone seeking reelection and let some new people get started in politics. Besides that if people like EJ or whoever need MMJ, it is all but criminal to try to stop them. Where is the compassion? Where is the love? Where is the pragmatism? Where is the common sense? Well, one thing for sure is that Bushit doe not have it.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by Sam Adams on February 03, 2002 at 09:22:06 PT
I got some bad news for these guys.........
There are 8 MILLION people in Canada using marijuana for RECREATIONAL use WITHOUT the governments permission! Holy Sh*t! Alert the media! There are 25 MILLION Canadians using the toilet without the government's permission! There are 10 MILLION Canadians blowing their noses WITHOUT the government's permission! 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by FoM on February 03, 2002 at 09:07:00 PT
Just a Note
I'm really not asleep at the wheel. I just can't find any articles to post that seem that interesting. Weekends are so darn slow. I'll keep looking. I guess I will watch the Super Bowl for the first time in my life. I want to see these commercials. I wonder who's playing? That's bad but I really don't know. Mental block I suppose. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by lookinside on February 03, 2002 at 09:05:25 PT:
now carry those numbers to the U.S.
That would be something like 7 million people. I believe the percentage is Higher here in the U.S. Our current regime in Warshington would put all those folks in prison...
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by aocp on February 03, 2002 at 08:41:43 PT
what a maroon
A recent national survey conducted by Pricewaterhouse-Coopers for Health Canada, shows that more than four per cent of the population over the age of 15 is using medicinal marijuana without permission from the government.Note the use of the age of 15 as a black eye to this. Oops, we've got the kids involved again!! And watch out for those deviant folks who are doing something for their own health, despite the wagging, moralistic finger of their tyrannical lords and ladies! Permission, my a**.But the poll reveals that the Canadian public is mostly ignorant about the new law.No, i'll give them much more credit than that. I'd say that they're probably in pain and suffering and as a consequence of this basic fact, DO NOT GIVE A FLYING F*** about the new law.
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment