cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Maven Puts Brakes on Distribution





Marijuana Maven Puts Brakes on Distribution
Posted by CN Staff on January 14, 2003 at 14:19:25 PT
By Dean Beeby, Canadian Press 
Source: Canadian Press 
The chief of Ottawa's medical marijuana program has been putting the brakes on a Health Canada proposal that would give needy patients direct access to government dope. A newly released document shows that Cindy Cripps-Prawak has been fighting a proposed policy shift that would deliver government-certified marijuana to chronically ill Canadians. Currently, Health Canada will provide its standardized marijuana only to accredited researchers, who would then dispense it to select patients in clinical trials. 
Patients not enrolled in such trials can seek federal authorization to possess marijuana to alleviate symptoms - but they have to get the stuff on their own from the street. They can also grow it from seeds or have someone else do it for them. Street dope, which can vary wildly in quality, is not legal though authorized patients can legally smoke it. A document released under the Access to Information Act shows that Health Canada policymakers are looking to end that conundrum through a major policy shift that would provide government marijuana directly to approved patients. The draft policy, entitled Medical Marijuana - Supply and Distribution and dated May 31 last year, would "provide access to (research grade) marijuana for medical purposes for patients unable to enrol in clinical trials," says the document. "It will not be possible for all patients to enrol in a controlled or open label clinical trial. In these instances, it will be necessary to consider providing patients with access to the federal supply of dried marijuana for medical purposes. . . ." Such a shift, which would be an about-face for Health Minister Anne McLellan, could help resolve a recent series of court decisions that have called into question the validity of Canada's marijuana laws. But the move is being opposed by the very civil servant who would be in charge of implementing it. In marginal notes to the draft policy statement, Cripps-Prawak says the shift would create a bad precedent by undermining Canada's drug-approval process, which requires clinical proof before drugs can be made available to the public. "This option does not support Health Canada responsibility with respect to the safety and well-being of Canadians," she wrote on June 5. Cripps-Prawak also warns that Health Canada would be in a conflict of interest since it would be both regulator and distributor of a drug, calling the proposal a "non-credible approach." "The recommendation should be to not deviate from the current policy of directing the product to research purposes only," she wrote. In an interview, Cripps-Prawak said "the document is still a draft and work continues." But she added that her concerns about direct distribution remain. "Where on first blush something might be a very good idea, looking at the ramifications and implications, sometimes you have to sit back a little bit and give it a little more thought," she said from Ottawa. Cripps-Prawak, director of the Office of Cannabis Medical Access since April 2001, also dismissed suggestions the department had previously indicated it would provide dope outside clinical trials. "From my perspective, we never shifted gears. . . . Maybe it was a problem with language." Health Canada is paying Prairie Plant Systems of Saskatoon $5.7 million over five years to grow high-grade marijuana in an abandoned mine section in Flin Flon, Man. The first crop of 74 kilograms, delivered in December 2001, contained 185 different varieties because the company was forced to rely on seeds from police seizures across the country. The original plan to obtain standardized seeds from the National Institute on Drug Abuse in Bethesda, Md., fell through. Last month, Prairie Plant Systems delivered a second crop of 200 kilograms based on the two best strains from the first crop. The crop's level of THC, the main active ingredient in marijuana, is higher than 10 per cent though tests are still being conducted. This second standardized and certified crop will be used to supply clinical trials with a reliable product. Some facts and figures about government-certified marijuana being grown in Flin Flon, Man.: Purpose - Health Canada wants standardized supply of marijuana for accredited researchers to determine whether the substance has health benefits. Contract - In December 2000, Prairie Plant Systems of Saskatoon awarded a five-year, $5.75-million contract to grow marijuana for Health Canada in an abandoned mine section in Flin Flon, Man. Source - Prairie Plant Systems originally to obtain quality seeds from the National Institute on Drug Abuse in Bethesda, Md. Delays forced them instead to use more than 10,000 seeds seized by various police forces across the country. Only a third produced plants. First crop - First crop of 74 kilograms delivered December 2001 had 185 varieties, with broad range of quality. Two best strains - officially known as MS-17/338 and MS-9/934 - later picked for their hardiness and potency. A third strong strain held in reserve. Second crop - Second crop of 200 kilograms delivered in December 2002, based on planted cuttings from the two best strains to ensure genetic consistency. Tests - Early results suggest a 10 per cent or higher level of THC, the most active ingredient of marijuana, in the second crop. Also being tested for microbes and for zinc-copper content. May be months before distribution to researchers. Processing and storage - Dried crop stored at Flin Flon to be bagged and labelled as necessary. No plans at present to produce rolled marijuana cigarettes. Current trials - The Community Research Initiative of Toronto is testing the effect of marijuana on the appetites of AIDS patients. A group at McGill University in Montreal is testing the effects of smoked marijuana on neuropathic pain. Health Canada provides funding but not the marijuana, which currently comes from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Complete Title: Ottawa's Marijuana Maven Puts Brakes on Distribution Proposal: DocumentsSource: Health CanadaSource: Canadian PressAuthor: Dean Beeby, Canadian Press Published: Tuesday, January 14, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Canadian PressRelated Articles & Web Site:Prairie Planet Systemhttp://www.prairieplant.com/Gov't Pot Ready - Winnipeg Sun http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15166.shtmlOttawa Mum on Drug Minehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15162.shtmlFlin Flon Pot To Escape Fiery Fatehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14782.shtml 
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Comment #13 posted by TroutMask on January 15, 2003 at 07:18:38 PT
But...
Obviously, if left to this woman sick people will not get their medicine within 6 months.I am very curious as to what is going to happen here. I can't imagine the laws going through debate and being enacted within 6 months. And the supreme court told the government that they have to provide more medical exemptions AND access to marijuana for the sick. Even if the government's heart were in it (as it obviously isn't), I really can't see them setting up rules for access AND a legal means of distribution in 6 months.The easiest, most politically safe and least expensive thing for them to do is to do nothing and let the laws go away; then make new laws controlling production and distribution. Maintaining any sort of prohibition as they have today will cost much more monetarily than not having prohibition.-TM
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Comment #12 posted by ErikGhint on January 15, 2003 at 06:38:14 PT
Aren't we a little selfish
...for hoping the sick people don't get their medicine within six months, when they desperatly need it?
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Comment #11 posted by BigDawg on January 15, 2003 at 06:18:36 PT
I agree
This woman may just be the best thing to happen to Cannabis since Hash. IMO the prohibitionists will ultimately bring themselves down. With our help of course.
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Comment #10 posted by WolfgangWylde on January 15, 2003 at 04:39:26 PT
I wish this woman all the success...
...in the world with her crusade. No approved medical marijuana, no marijuana laws at all. You go girl!
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on January 14, 2003 at 20:10:53 PT
puff_tuff
Thank You. I have tremendous sympathy for those in pain and I really find it hard to say how it makes me feel when I read a letter like Michaels. The words don't come easy for me. I just keep quiet. I can say it makes me very mad.
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Comment #8 posted by puff_tuff on January 14, 2003 at 19:56:03 PT
Michael Patriquen 
Greetings,Following is a letter that Michael Patriquen sent to his "doctor" at Westmorland Institution, NB, where he is currently being held prisoner. This letter is being circulated at his request. He is awaiting Dr. Levesque's reply. His condition is critical as his health continues to deteriorate. It is absolutely abhorrent that a fellow-exemption holder would be subjected to such archaic medical treatment, or "more appropriately lack of medical treatment"!! Will continue to keep you abreast of his situation,Debbie Stultz-Giffin----------------------------January 6, 2003To: Dr. Levesque, Westmorland Institution Health UnitFrom: Michael Patriquen, 970351ARe: Untreated Chronic PainTo summarize our medical appointment of Dec.13 as to my disability and
pain :I complained of unrelenting, constant pain in the left side of face/head which is a result of damaged/inflamed nerves resulting from the damage done to my cervical spine in a series of accidents from 1992 to 1999. I complained that the pain ranged from moderate to severe and affected my ability to sleep properly and to eat properly as the pain made me nauseous and took away my appetite.I explained that I had not slept more than an hour or two at a time since my incarceration on September 10, 2002 due to being awakened by pain and have not eaten a full meal since that date. That was the date my Cannabis therapy was halted.I told you that I had received two exemptions from Health Canada to use, possess and produce Cannabis to treat the pain from my disability. The last of these exemptions is current. I explained that to reach the point of trying cannabis therapy, I had over the years been subjected to all of the conventional therapies, all of which either had no effect on my condition or could not be tolerated. We discussed my: acute care physio, rehabilitative physio, use of TENS Unit, Nerve block therapy, and pharmacological treatments ranging from Advil to Oxycontin. These also included a number of traditional NSAID's, COX II inhibitors and amitryptiline.We discussed that I had been seen for evaluation and to develop a treatment plan that actually worked, by- Dr. Lappin as case co-ordinator, a physiatrist, an orthopedic surgeon and a team of specialists from the Pain Management Unit at the VG Hospital in Halifax. In addition to the therapy trials all relevant testing was done. I further explained that I have been on Losec therapy for approximately 10 years for GI problems. You have continued my Losec therapy.Having explained all of that I asked you what you could do to treat my pain and the resultant lack of sleep/appetite. You suggested: Advil, Elavil and NSAID's. I told you that these had all been tried and I either could not tolerate them or they did not work. You went on to say that you felt "Boxed In" in that there were no conventional therapies left to try. On further pressing by myself- out of desperation- on how to deal with my pain you suggested, quite seriously, that I get some Tylenol.You next requested my complete medical file to see if Dr. Lappin and the specialists had overlooked any treatment alternatives. I explained why I did not wish to have 12 years of my confidential medical history entered into a federal government databank. You said that you were too busy to speak directly with Dr. Lappin on the telephone to obtain what information you required. I said I would consider having Dr. Lappin write you a letter.You told me that if I presented myself with acute symptoms you would see what you could do for me but otherwise you have nothing to offer.MEETING ADJOURNED.Two days subsequent to our meeting I was summoned to the Health Unit in Dorchester penitentiary and told that my neck was to be x-rayed. I had not discussed this with you nor had you mentioned it to me. I have had a number of radiological studies done on my cervical spine- they are current and on file in Halifax. I could see no reason to subject my head to needless x-ray bombardment and declined the offer.I am still left with the same problems. I am in constant pain whose level fluctuates throughout the day. It makes sleep for any beneficial length of time impossible. As a result I am constantly groggy and exhausted. I am on a 24 hour cycle of intermittent naps through exhaustion. I have no appetite due to nausea created by the pain. I now eat not for nutrition but for what I feel I can get in and keep down - just to have something in there to keep the machinery ticking. This is largely comprised of tinned tomato soup, peanut butter sandwiches and bananas- and not much of any of that.I know that the pain, lack of sleep and lack of nutrition are leading to a physical breakdown- it must. I do not know what form it will come in but I fear it will be severe and final.I had considered having Dr. Lappin write you to offer the same history that I have explained to Dr. Gintow, Dr. Begin and yourself but realizing how busy both yourself and Dr. Lappin are I can't see the point of wasting your time. I seriously doubt that Dr. Lappin, the team of specialists and Health Canada have overlooked any viable treatment options other than the Cannabis therapy.In order to be approved by Health Canada under the Marijuana Medical Access Regulations, as I am, the signing Doctor must state that all other treatments have been tried and have failed or have no reasonable chance of success. Dr. Lappin attested to that fact on my first
exemption application, which was approved in August of 2001, and Dr's Clarke and Lynch, pain specialists, attested to that fact for the second one, approved August 2002. Health Canada spent a number of months verifying the data on both applications.The Health Unit at Springhill took photocopies of my current-operative-exemption for cannabis therapy. I would assume those copies exist in my medical files. If they do not I will be pleased to offer you more. The Office of Cannabis Medical Access at Health Canada will gladly offer you the generic information that no application for cannabis therapy will be approved unless all other therapies have been tried and have failed or stand no reasonable hance of success. From these two basic pieces of information it is very easy for you to verify that there is nothing else to try to treat my condition- it has all been done. I require cannabis to keep my health.Since being incarcerated I have borne and continue to bear my disability and pain with dignity. I do not constantly complain to the nurses- or others- of my pain or feelings of unwellness and I attempt to do what is expected of me in the institution to the best of my ability. You as the attending Dr. are the only person I am communicating with on this matter and I require your assistance.From the above it should be apparent that if I am to function in any near normal capacity, be relieved of my pain and consequently free to eat/sleep, then I require cannabis treatment. I hereby formally request that the CSC Medical Department provide continuation of my cannabis therapy which was only interrupted by my incarceration with CSC. If at present the institution is unable to provide that then I would ask you to please do the following:Inform your superiors in the regional or national office of my situation and my formal, written request for continuation of Cannabis therapy; Inform me of their response, in writing, so I may take immediately whatever legal avenues are open to me to obtain this treatment; Please incorporate this letter and all further communication regarding my case into my medical file and c.c. me on all such communications. I would expect the same respect and dignity shown from CSC Medical regarding my case that I have shown to date. I thank you in advance for your assistance and compassion.Yours truly,
Michael Patriquen
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Comment #7 posted by mayan on January 14, 2003 at 18:32:22 PT
well-being?
In marginal notes to the draft policy statement, Cripps-Prawak says the shift would create a bad precedent by undermining Canada's drug-approval process, which requires clinical proof before drugs can be made available to the public. "This option does not support Health Canada responsibility with respect to the safety and well-being of Canadians," she wrote on June 5. This plant has been used safely for thousands of years & has enhanced the well-being of millions of people. Still there is no clinical proof one way or the other. The pharmaceutical industry along with the U.S. government, which probably have this lady in their pocket, are making sure there will be no proof! I believe Alan Young was correct by saying that the only thing keeping cannabis illegal is U.S. government disapproval. C'mon, Canada. Show some balls. Just say NO to tyrants!Jan.18 NATIONAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON TO PROTEST WAR AGAINST IRAQ(Joint action in San Francisco)
http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/j18/j18endorse.htmlPreemptive Impeachment: International Law Professor Francis Boyle of the University of Illinois has offered his services to any member of Congress to draft articles of impeachment against George W. Bush.
http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/011303_preemptive.htmlThe way out is the way in -Unexplained Media Omissions and Silence: How Did those WTC Buildings Collapse?
http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/media_wtc_jan03.htmlOF BIG OIL, BY BIG OIL, FOR BIG OIL: The 10 Most Startling Speculations and "Conspiracy Theories" About 9/11 and America's New War -
http://www.popmatters.com/features/021227-conspiracy.shtml9/11 - The Road To Tyranny (Realplayer Video)
http://sf.indymedia.org/uploads/the_road_to_tyranny__34kbps_.ram
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Comment #6 posted by BGreen on January 14, 2003 at 17:30:48 PT
I Can Only Guess
The judge said last week that the gov't had to set up a system to provide medical cannabis to the approved patients. He gave the gov't 6 months to design and implement a working plan or else the laws were off the books. The laws are about cannabis specifically so there's no distinction between medical and recreational use. This woman is the director of the Office of Cannabis Medical Access which means it's HER job to fix what the court has declared to be the unconstitutionality of the medical cannabis system. She appears to be so vehemently against fulfilling the duties of her agency that there is NO WAY this woman is going to be able to act on the court order to fix the distribution system.I believe the possession laws will be completely thrown out, and the distribution laws will have to be thrown out too if it's going to be up to individuals to supply the medicine instead of the gov't.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on January 14, 2003 at 16:49:12 PT
BGreen
So if they won't get marijuana to those who need it will it be legal for everyone? 
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Comment #4 posted by BGreen on January 14, 2003 at 16:44:54 PT
You Asked What This Means, FoM?
This means that one self-righteous person thinks she can make policy instead of implementing policy. This means that one person is stopping sick people from getting their medicine. This means that this woman thinks she is an expert in medical cannabis when she actually knows less than the majority of posters here at cannabisnews.com. This also means that one woman has set herself up against the Canadian Court system.What I hope this means is that this evil woman, Cindy Cripps-Prawak, will soon be looking for a new job. She appears to be almost qualified enough to ask "Do you want fries with that, ay?" Unfortunately, I don't think she could master getting the fries into the little bag because she's an uncaring mindless twit.
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Comment #3 posted by p4me on January 14, 2003 at 16:04:02 PT
Good article listed at MapInc
I used to watch the news everynight. Now I do not bother to turn it on because I view it as brainwashing. Google News on the Internet is better than anything on the news even with their human interest stories. Anyway, there is an article up about Mexicoworth reading and the first paragraph is copied from http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/20030112-9999_1m12feads.htmlJanuary 12, 2003 TIJUANA – Members of a Mexican federal anti-narcotics squad were detained and their office abruptly closed Friday night after soldiers found almost five tons of unreported marijuana in their building. 
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on January 14, 2003 at 14:43:51 PT
Related Article and Excerpt
Toronto - A group of seriously ill people has won the latest battle in an ongoing war with Ottawa over a federal scheme to permit the use of medical marijuana that the patients say violates their constitutional rights. 
An Ontario judge agreed Thursday that the federal government's Medical Marijuana Access Regulations are unconstitutional because they prevent more deserving people from exemption than they permit. The ruling from Superior Court Justice Sidney Lederman is binding on lower courts and will likely wreak further havoc on the laws in Canada that make possession of marijuana illegal, said lawyer Alan Young. Six Months To Fix Medical-Marijuana Regulations: http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15154.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on January 14, 2003 at 14:31:57 PT
Now What?
Here we go again! What does this mean?
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