cannabisnews.com: Ottawa's Pot Grower Will Supply Patients





Ottawa's Pot Grower Will Supply Patients
Posted by CN Staff on July 09, 2003 at 06:42:24 PT
By Kim Lunman and Brian Laghi
Source: Globe and Mail 
Ottawa -- After years of delay, Ottawa will announce today a plan to use its marijuana grower in Manitoba to supply patients who have been given the right to use the drug for medical purposes, sources say.Facing a court-imposed deadline, Health Minister Anne McLellan will reveal in Edmonton how the government plans to release the drug to patients who have received medical exemptions from Canada's possession laws, sources told The Globe and Mail.
They said Ottawa will use its marijuana grower at Flin Flon, Man., to supply patients. The government had previously told the company, Prairie Plant Systems, that the drug content of its marijuana was too inconsistent. The company has worked on refinements, but it was not clear yesterday whether the problem is fixed.Prairie Plant Systems was asked three months ago to begin preparing one individual supply of the drug for a person who had qualified to take it, a source said.Advocates for those trying to obtain cannabis warned that the victory may be short-lived because the government has been dragged kicking and screaming into the process.At the end of the month, Ottawa is appealing the court order that forces it to take today's step.The Ontario Superior Court ruled in January that Health Canada's medical-marijuana access regulations are unconstitutional because the government did not provide a way for the drug to be distributed.The regulations were Ottawa's attempt to respond to an Ontario Court of Appeal ruling in 2000 that the government's Controlled Drugs and Substances Act was unconstitutional because it failed to provide an exception for medical use of marijuana.The Superior Court judgment gave Health Canada six months to rectify the situation or the permits for medicinal marijuana users would become invalid as of today.Approximately 500 Canadians have received permission to use the drug.Currently, patients exempt from the law are allowed to grow the drug themselves or designate someone to do it for them.However, lawyers have said the system is imperfect because the act of obtaining seeds to grow the cannabis is considered trafficking.Many individuals also don't know where to get a supply, and need the government to provide it.Alan Young, the lawyer who brought the case forcing today's move, said he believes the government will move slowly in releasing the cannabis in the hope of winning the appeal.Mr. Young said that, in his own discussions with the department, government officials have been extremely reluctant to release the drug out of fear that Ottawa may become liable for any dangerous side effects."They're doing this with their fingers crossed behind their backs," he said. "They've been boxed in."Last night, sources said that medical doctors would have a role to play in delivering the substance, although it was unclear what that would be.Philippe Lucas of Victoria, who has hepatitis C and has received an exemption permit, said he needed the support of several doctors and specialists before he got permission to consume the drug.Medicinal marijuana users, along with several MPs and Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs, will protest today in Ottawa and Halifax to demand the government change its regulations.Debbie Stultz-Giffin, a 45-year-old mother of four who lives in Halifax, said Ottawa was making criminals out of sick people by refusing to change its policies until now.Ms. Stultz-Giffin was given a medical exemption after her multiple sclerosis was diagnosed.She says she does not want to go to jail for buying marijuana, which makes her feel better."None of us is optimistic that the government is going to pull the frying pan out of the fire on this," she said, calling for Ms. McLellan to resign."She's abused chronically ill Canadians."Libby Davies, a New Democratic Party MP from Vancouver and member of the House of Commons Special Committee on the Non-Medical Use of Drugs, said it's time to make marijuana available to those who have the permits, or else the government is creating a criminal Catch-22."They've completely botched up the program," she said."They make it impossible for people to get access, and people are suffering as a result." Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)Author: Kim Lunman and Brian LaghiPublished: Wednesday, July 9, 2003 - Page A1 Copyright: 2003 The Globe and Mail CompanyContact: letters globeandmail.caWebsite: http://www.globeandmail.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Canadians for Safe Access http://www.safeaccess.ca/Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmOttawa To Make It Easier To Access Medical Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16787.shtmlResearch on MMJ Produces No Resultshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16785.shtmlPot Regulations Violate Charter: Ontario Courthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15158.shtml
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Comment #9 posted by afterburner on July 09, 2003 at 11:50:59 PT:
Me, Too!
I'm listening to John Denver, Bob Marley, Louis Armstrong, and Jimi Hendrix as I surf/cruise the cannabis stories and comments.Cool runnings, peace be the journey.
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Comment #8 posted by Trekkie on July 09, 2003 at 11:37:18 PT
Thanks FoM, Afterburner,
Both the link, and your summation helped a great deal!I didn't realize that it was two seperate issues.I just wish my family hadn't moved the states from Vernon, BC back in the 80's...
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on July 09, 2003 at 11:27:22 PT
Thanks Once Again afterburner
That makes it clearer. I wonder what will happen next? I'm just in a good mood today. When Cannabis gets it's well deserved press I always get happy. I'm listening to one of the CDs we made and the song is! Ta Da! One Toke Over The Line Sweet Jesus!Good eh? LOL!
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Comment #6 posted by afterburner on July 09, 2003 at 11:18:11 PT:
Si, Bueno, FoM.
You answered your own question. The constitutionality of the MMAR (Marijuana Medical Access Regulations) is a separate issue from the unconstitutionality of the cannabis possession section of the CDSA (Controlled Drugs and Substances Act), eventhough the latter was facilitated by the adoption of the former.The last-ditch "interim" proposal to sell Flin Flon pot and seeds to medical cannabis exemptees is a small positive step, and it should be covered by Canada's Health Plan. Cannabis possession has been nullified from the CDSA in Ontario and according to equal treatment provisions of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms should be extended to all provinces of Canada, a "marijuana-free" zone. Revisiting Constitutionality of Canadian Pot Laws http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/16/thread16221.shtml#8ego transcendence follows ego destruction, struggle in the courts, struggle in the Parliament, struggle in the streets.
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Comment #5 posted by CorvallisEric on July 09, 2003 at 10:49:45 PT
Liability
Mr. Young said that, in his own discussions with the department, government officials have been extremely reluctant to release the drug out of fear that Ottawa may become liable for any dangerous side effects.This is a real, genuine problem, especially if it can be shown that the govt. impeded research that could have (years ago) established safety and dangers. Maybe the only way for them to deal with the liability issue is to allow general legalization to come about thru the courts and just get out of the way as much as possible. That way they don't have to supply "untested medicine."I think it's important for reformers to try to see the issues from THEIR perspective and help them along whenever possible, and save the fighting for when it's simply impossible.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on July 09, 2003 at 10:21:51 PT
Does This Article Explain More?
Messy Marijuana Law Tries Courts, Police: http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16721.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by Trekkie on July 09, 2003 at 10:16:07 PT
But, is it enough?
In another post, Health Canada is actually going to distribute the Flin-Flon product (which, surprise, is now all good). So, that meets the criteria that the Superior Court put forth. But, is that enough? This whole plan is labelled as "interim." What might the FULL plan be?This is going to be a very interesting month... ;D
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Comment #2 posted by John Tyler on July 09, 2003 at 09:36:36 PT
last minute stunt
Looks like this little last minute stunt is too little, too late. 
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Comment #1 posted by Trekkie on July 09, 2003 at 07:57:34 PT
Political Cartoon
If I was a political cartoonist, I'd draw up a picture of hockey game; Health Canada vs the Leafs, Superior Court being the referee. Superior Court would be shouting to Health Canada, "Two minutes, delay of game!"This all seems to be smoke and mirrors (no pun intended). Health Canada magically develops a plan on the last day of the deadline, a plan that also has not been implemented. Superior Court should stand by their decision and strike the law from the books, as Health Canada still has not yet DELIVERED on their plan; none of the 580 patients have the Flin-Flon product in their hands, do they?
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