cannabisnews.com: Critics Give Government Plan Mixed Reviews Critics Give Government Plan Mixed Reviews Posted by CN Staff on July 09, 2003 at 12:07:45 PT By Dennis Bueckert, Canadian Press Source: Canadian Press Ottawa -- Advocates of medical marijuana are welcoming a federal decision to sell pot to seriously ill patients, but describe it as a small victory against policies that remain repressive overall. Activists say that about 500 Canadians now have the permission needed to buy seeds or dried marijuana from the federal government under the medical access program. But they say most would-be participants can't meet the eligibility requirements. "What about the thousands of others?" asked Alison Myrden, a woman who spoke from her wheel chair at a news conference Wednesday. "This is a very small victory but it is a victory nevertheless." The policy may be short-lived, however, since it was introduced Wednesday in reaction to an Ontario court decision the federal government is appealing. Asked whether the government will annul the access program if it wins the appeal, McLellan replied, "It was never the intention of us to sell product." Under the interim policy, patients who have obtained authorization can purchase packages containing 30 seeds for $20 each, or 30-gram bags of dried marijuana for $150. The announcement came on the day an Ontario court judge set as the deadline for the federal government to come up with regulations for distributing medical marijuana. The judge set the July 9 deadline, saying it's unfair that medicinal users must turn to illegal means to obtain their marijuana even though they are authorized to use it for their health. Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, chair of a Senate committee that last year called for pot to be decriminalized, was highly critical of Wednesday's announcement. "You can smell the bad faith of the government," said Nolin. "The government doesn't do anything but react. Thank goodness for the courts." But McLellan made it clear she's highly skeptical about the whole basis of the medical access program. "There have been no studies anywhere in the world that have been able to confirm medicinal benefit," she said. "We're not convinced in terms of the medicinal benefits which is why we are supporting clinical trials." Former health minister Allan Rock announced in 1999 that the government would conduct research into the medicinal value of marijuana. So far no study has reached the stage of clinical trials, and critics say the whole research program has been dogged by problems and delays. One Toronto study was terminated in March just as it was about to begin recruiting volunteer subjects. "The research hasn't gone anywhere," said Nolin. The marijuana will come from an underground lab in Flin Flon, Man., where it is being grown by Prairie Plant Systems under contract to the government. Complete Title: Critics Give Government Plan To Sell Medical Pot Mixed Reviews Source: Canadian Press Author: Dennis Bueckert, Canadian Press Published: Wednesday, July 09, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Canadian PressRelated Articles & Web Sites:Canadians for Safe Accesshttp://www.safeaccess.ca/The Medical Marijuana Missionhttp://www.themarijuanamission.com/Canada To Sell Medical Marijuana To Ill http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16799.shtmlCanada To Sell Marijuana for Medical Usehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16798.shtmlOttawa's Pot Grower Will Supply Patientshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16789.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by FoM on July 09, 2003 at 17:00:23 PT Updated Article from The Canadian Press http://www.canada.com/halifax/story.asp?id=8522E64B-8C11-4608-9EDB-957AA08A88DD [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by lombar on July 09, 2003 at 16:45:45 PT Check your facts Dennis "Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, chair of a Senate committee that last year called for pot to be decriminalized, was highly critical of Wednesday's announcement."That committee recommended full legalisation and regulation, not just decriminalisation. Of course he is critical, 2 years of his research swept aside by the prohibitionists and their immoral crusade against a plant. Try reading that report before writing a story about cannabis... [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by puff_tuff on July 09, 2003 at 13:34:19 PT CBC Newsworld Audio CBC Newsworld's Nancy Wilson interviews Libby Davies, NDP MP and Alison Myrdon, a medical marijuana user. (Runs 6:31)http://www.cbc.ca/clips/ram-newsworld/wilson_davies_myrdon030709.ram [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by afterburner on July 09, 2003 at 12:46:38 PT: Dr. Ethan Russo Meet Health Minister Anne McLellan "There have been no studies anywhere in the world that have been able to confirm medicinal benefit," [McLellan, the new student,] said. Then why did you cancel the Toronto study before it started? "One Toronto study was terminated in March just as it was about to begin recruiting volunteer subjects. 'The research hasn't gone anywhere,' said [Senator Pierre Claude] Nolin." ego transcendence follows ego destruction, talk sense, woman! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Jose Melendez on July 09, 2003 at 12:44:51 PT explain THIS! "There have been no studies anywhere in the world that have been able to confirm medicinal benefit," I am continuously amazed that no one calls these people on this stuff. My own state's Governor Jeb Bush was in Toronto rustling up snowbirds to boost our tourism, they titter about a planted false Katherine Harris rumor yet no one has the nerve to ask why has not the sky fallen since Canada apparently legalized by default... See: http://www.gwpharm.com/news_pres_21_may_03.htmlhttp://www.rxmarijuana.com/http://www.marijuananews.com/marijuananews/cowan/medical_cannabis.htmDrug War is TREASON! Arrest Prohibition: It's Hypocrisy, Stupid. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment