cannabisnews.com: Commons A-Buzz Over Grown-in-Canada Pot!





Commons A-Buzz Over Grown-in-Canada Pot!
Posted by FoM on May 28, 1999 at 07:40:42 PT
Source: 
OTTAWA - Allan Rock appears high on home-grown, saying he would prefer the marijuana for clinical pot trials be grown here in Canada. ``I think we're up to it as a nation, aren't we?'' the federal health minister said yesterday. 
Rock, who next month will announce details of clinical marijuana trials for those who need it to ease pain, said there are benefits to having the pot grown here under the watchful eyes of government bureaucrats. ``The advantages might be you'd have a consistent percentage of THC, consistent quality, a level of cleanliness which is consistent,'' he said. ``Especially when you are doing research, you want to reduce the number of variables, one of them being the quality of the marijuana being smoked.'' THC is the active substance that provides the ``buzz'' for cannabis users. Health Canada has so far received 26 requests from people who wish to use marijuana for medicinal purposes. Later in the day, Rock was asked about his personal history with pot. `I have never smoked marijuana . . . for medicinal purposes,'' Rock said. Lawyer Eugene Oscapella of the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy said Canada grows good quality cannabis, which is already being used for therapeutic purposes. ``It just takes a wave of the wand by the minister to give someone permission to grow it,'' he said. ``If he wants a Canadian supply, it shouldn't take long to get it. That should be no excuse for feet-dragging.'' Oscapella said higher THC levels would be important for therapeutic smokers because they would smoke less and therefore be exposed to less tar. ``They're proud of their marijuana in British Columbia, but there are plenty of people in Ontario using Ontario pot,'' he said. ``It's like any drug, however, in that dosage and quality will vary. That's why we have clinical trials.'' Earlier this week, the House of Commons approved a motion legalizing the use of marijuana for health and medical reasons. Reform critic Keith Martin (Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca) said his party backs the therapeutic use of pot but wants to ensure it not be used as a route to legalizing marijuana. ``We do not want this to become a loophole whereby people can say they have a headache and need to take marijuana,'' he said. Progressive Conservative critic Peter McKay (Pictou-Antigonish-Guysborough) voiced his party's support, but said Rock is moving too slowly. He referred to statements by Vancouver's Compassion Club, which supplies free marijuana to ease the pain of ill clients, saying Rock's pace means ``more individuals will continue to suffer until legislation is passed.'' The marijuana debate has caused levity in the Commons. Reform finance critic Monte Solberg (Medicine Hat) took a jab at Finance Minister Paul Martin during daily Question Period yesterday after what he considered a convoluted reply to his question. ``Just two days after we passed the medical marijuana motion and already we are getting answers like this,'' Solberg said. Martin failed to point out that Solberg had to admit he voted twice when the pot motion was put to the Commons Tuesday. Bloc Québécois MP Bernard Bigras (Rosemont) introduced the motion calling for the legalization of marijuana for clinical use. 
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Comment #2 posted by david on June 15, 2001 at 07:02:49 PT:
chronic pain, help!
hi, im a 40 year old man who has been using marijuana for chronic pain. i have chronic hep c, and arthritis all through my body. i strongly beleive that if it wasnt for marijuana, i would not be able to get going in the morning and deal with the pain.i am on a very strong dose of pain medication, that does not take all my pain away, and never will.it will only continue to get worse. i would recommend anyone who is in so much pain, and takes a high dose of pain killers, to use marijuana as the benefits of its use is very signifigant to me.it helps me with the naseau, from the pills, and gives me an appetite for food, which the pills also destroy.it also helps me to get my body motivated which is very hard with arthritis. i hope health canada would hurry with their decision of distribution because i have a very hard time trying to find it myself,and it gets extremely difficult to function when i dont have it. 
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on May 28, 1999 at 07:44:54 PT
OOPS! Forgot The Link! Sorry!
Forgot the link so here it is!http://www.thestar.com/thestar/editorial/news/990528NEW02d_NA-POT28.html
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