cannabisnews.com: Canadian Marijuana Ready for Trials Canadian Marijuana Ready for Trials Posted by CN Staff on May 06, 2003 at 09:16:48 PT By Rick Mofina, The Ottawa Citizen Source: Ottawa Citizen After months of confusion and delay, the federal government is finally ready to give government-grown medical marijuana to sick Canadians."We now find ourselves in a position where Canada has a domestic supply of marijuana for research initiatives," said Cindy Cripps-Prawak, head of the federal government's Cannabis Medical Access program. Health Canada is now getting the standardized potency it has been seeking since 2000, when it gave Prairie Plant Systems of Saskatoon a $5.75-million contract to grow the plant in a mine at Flin Flon, Man.Canada's government-grown cannabis has a level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major psychoactive ingredient of cannabis, in the 10-15 per cent range, Ms. Cripps-Prawak said.Only two clinical trials on the safety and effective use of medical marijuana are ongoing in Canada. Federal officials had to obtain U.S.-produced marijuana for those projects in Toronto and Montreal, which involve 32 patients in each city.New trials are expected to include tests where all patients get access to the drug."These open label clinical trials is where we will gain, hopefully, and have a larger number of people, up to 300-400, who can participate in these clinical trials," Ms. Cripps-Prawak said.Complete Title: This Bud's For You: Canadian Marijuana Ready for TrialsSource: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)Author: Rick Mofina, The Ottawa Citizen Published: Saturday, May 03, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Ottawa CitizenContact: letters thecitizen.southam.caWebsite: http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/ Related Articles & Web Site:Prairie Plant Systems http://www.prairieplant.com/ Ottawa Must Decide What To Do About Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16100.shtmlFederal Marijuana Too Potent To Usehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16015.shtmlCanada Considers Abandoning Potent Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16012.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #8 posted by FoM on May 06, 2003 at 14:02:36 PT Thank You I just want to thank you all for helping keep CNews current with all this good and important information. A news article is important but comments and links help bring the whole issue closer together. The laws in the U.S. are very hard for me to understand. I'm glad you are keeping up with Canada and it's laws for us. I don't have a legal thinking mind and somethings just get stuck in my head because they are logical. The laws not logical so that's where my confusion comes from. Thanks Again! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by puff_tuff on May 06, 2003 at 13:35:39 PT Finally Looks like Health Canada is finally turning to the Compassion Clubs, just as the Senate Report recommended....Thought I'd forward this to you... just released it yesterday and this AM via fax and email.Also, Hilary of BCCCS and Philippe of the VICS will be meeting with Health Canada at this Montreal meeting... first time HC will be meeting formally/officially with the compassion clubs re: access and distribution in Canada.Stakeholder Advisory Committee on Medical Marihuana FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, May 5, 2003.On May 12, 2003, Canada's largest group of legal cannabis users and growers will present their demands to Health Canada at a meeting in Montreal. It will be at the Office of Cannabis Medical Access' (OCMA) Stakeholder Advisory Committee meeting at the Delta Centre Ville (777 University Street) on the 12th and 13th of May starting at 9am. The presentation will be conducted in the Versaille Room.The OCMA Advisory Committee was formed in the fall of 2002 with the intent of proposing changes to the MMAR. Unfortunately, the patients - 'exemptees' and 'licencees' have never been directly consulted during this advisory process.This is the third time that the committee has met, and it is the second meeting since Honourable Ontario Superior Court Justice Sidney Lederman declared the Health Canada program unconstitutional for only giving the "illusion of access" to medicinal cannabis. Health Canada has until July 9th to put a distribution system in place, otherwise the federal laws concerning the personal possession of cannabis will be struck down.Health Canada's Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) will be given a list of demands and concerns during the May 12th meeting by a group of patients from across Canada. The group, called the 'Medusers', would like Health Canada to address the following concerns and demands to make the program more effective and relevant:1. Inclusion of 2 permanent representatives on the Stakeholder Advisory Committee, nominated and elected by the exemptees and licencees in the OCMA program.2. Begin immediate distribution of the PPS cannabis to exemptees.3. Immediate removal of the overly burdensome registration and renewal requirements.4. Legal amnesty for all legitimate users, growers and distributors of medicinal cannabis.5. Financial restitution to cover the cost of therapeutic cannabis.6. The immediate addressing of the Lederman/Hitszig decision and it's consequences on the program."The courts have said that this program is unconstitutional. Health Canada has yet to address the very urgent needs of the 1000 Canadians signed up under the MMAR (Marijuana Medical Access Regulations)" says Philippe Lucas, an elected representative for the Medusers group."In over 3 years and millions of taxpayer dollars spent on the OCMA, Health Canada has never supplied a gram, joint or seed to a single suffering Canadian. It is time for Health Canada and Minister McLellan to live up to the compassionate nature of the program by implementing the immediate distribution of the Prairie Plant Systems cannabis, rather than forcing critically and chronically ill Canadians onto the streets to access their medicine."Medusers Press/Media Contact information:Canada western rep: Philippe Lucas (Victoria, BC) Phone: (250) 884-9821 Email: phil drugsense.orgCanada central rep: Alison Myrden (Burlington, ON) Phone: (905) 681-8287 Email: myalison cogeco.caCanada eastern rep: Debbie Stultz-Giffin (Bridgetown, NS) Phone: (902) 655-2355 Email: cliff.giffin ns.sympatico.ca [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by afterburner on May 06, 2003 at 11:16:51 PT: When? Inquiring Minds Want to Know. New trials are expected to include tests where all patients get access to the drug.Finally, the feds are doing what the courts demanded and what they themselves promised. I guess Minister of Health Anne McLellan isn't feeling so "uncomfortable" anymore. However, no date is mentioned. This looks like another stalling tactic. McLellan Admits Med Pot Makes Her Uncomfortable http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/13/thread13804.shtmlRock Planned To Release Pot, Letter Says http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/14/thread14157.shtmlMedicinal Pot Users Protest Club Closure http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/13/thread13854.shtmlFeds Will Supply Medicinal Pot: McLellan http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/13/thread13895.shtmlMarijuana Solution Lacks Compassion http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/14/thread14443.shtml If these trials really go ahead, don't forget Michael Patriquen, who is being denied the Charter of Rights and Freedoms right to medical treatment with medical cannabis according to his Health Canada exemption. NS Judge Rules Against Man Who Wants Pot in Prison http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/14/thread14068.shtml ego transcendence follows ego destruction, and suddenly there is no problem. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by WolfgangWylde on May 06, 2003 at 10:21:07 PT True enough, P_T... ...its the Ontario Court case that rules the roost, vis-a-vis medical marijuana, but I think the perception that it is available medically is still important the the Government's case in the Supreme Court arguments. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on May 06, 2003 at 10:12:44 PT puff_tuff Now I'm confused. I wish I understood what is happening better in Canada. Am I the only one who is not getting it all? [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by puff_tuff on May 06, 2003 at 09:48:38 PT Actually This is reaction to the Ontario Superior Court, Justice Sidney Lederman gave them 6 months (July 9) to make medical marijuana accessible to exepmtees. Mind you, the case is still under appeal.Court Nixes Fed's Medical-Pot Regulations http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15153.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by TroutMask on May 06, 2003 at 09:26:53 PT Exactly what I was thinking. Yep, gotta keep up appearances, doncha' know...-TM [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by WolfgangWylde on May 06, 2003 at 09:21:19 PT In other words... ..."Damn, the Supreme Court case is moving forward. We better come up with something quick!" [ Post Comment ] Post Comment