cannabisnews.com: Ottawa Unveils Interim Medical Marijuana Deal 





Ottawa Unveils Interim Medical Marijuana Deal 
Posted by CN Staff on July 09, 2003 at 18:49:39 PT
By CTV.ca News Staff
Source: CTV
The federal government is now officially Canada's supplier of medical marijuana. An Ontario court had given Ottawa until July 10 to begin distributing marijuana to several hundred seriously ill Canadians. On Wednesday, Ottawa decided to comply while it appeals.Under the interim deal, marijuana seeds will be given to people who are authorized to produce pot for medical purposes, Health Canada spokeswoman Cindy Cripps-Prawak told a news conference. 
The dried version of the plant will be given to those who are authorized to use medical marijuana but too ill to grow their own. It will be provided at a cost of $5 per gram. A 30-gram bag will cost $150, less than half the price charged by dealers. A bag of 30 seeds will cost $20.Steve Bacon has a permit to smoke marijuana to ease the pain of hepatitis C. Like many medical users, he's skeptical about the government's sudden decision to sell it to them through doctors."It's a smokescreen, a big smokescreen, a big farce," he says.That's because he believes that only reason Health Canada made Wednesday's announcement is because an Ontario court forced Ottawa to supply pot to those too sick to grow it. The judge ordered Health Canada to broaden access to medical marijuana, saying current laws made "seriously ill, vulnerable people deal with the criminal underworld to get medicine." That court's decision is being appealed, and the health minister hinted the supply will dry up if Ottawa wins."Keep in mind that it was never the intention of us to sell product," Anne McLellan told reporters. McLellan adds she's still not convinced of the claimed benefits and wants more research."There have been no studies anywhere in the world that have been able to confirm medicinal benefits."In the meantime, Health Canada announced it will sell marijuana that was grown in an abandoned mine in Flin Flon, Manitoba. But officials warn the sale may be temporary."It's anticipated that this policy will remain in effect until the roles and responsibilities of the Government of Canada in providing marijuana for medical purposes are clarified," Cripps-Prawak said, adding the policy could be suspended at any time.Critics are demanding a permanent supply and accused Ottawa of a token gesture."They're not doing this because of their kindness or compassion. They're doing this because of their incompetence, which forced a court order," says Philippe Lucas of Canadians for Safe Access.Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, chair of a Senate committee that 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.''Then there's the cost. Alison Myrden smokes, drinks and eats about 90 grams a week, to help her cope with multiple sclerosis. She now relies mainly on handouts and still can't afford the government's price."I can't foot out $450. So I don't know where they think I'm going to get it from."Rather than smoke the marijuana, Health Canada is advising people to ingest the plant in tea or by eating it. "We believe that patients should consume it in the safest possible way for them," Cripps-Prawak said. "And the only way they can determine that is by discussing it with their physician."How long the new supply lasts depends on the courts. An appeal will be heard later this month, but McLellan says the issue could got all the way to the supreme court. That could take a year or more. Source: CTV (Canada)Published: July 9, 2003Copyright: 2003 Bell Globemedia Interactive Inc. Website: http://www.ctv.ca/Contact: newsonline ctv.ca Related Articles & Web Site:The Medical Marijuana Missionhttp://www.themarijuanamission.com/Ottawa OKs Medical Pot Distribution Plan http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16796.shtmlOttawa Set To Sell Its Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16795.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by afterburner on July 13, 2003 at 14:36:55 PT:
Health? Canada
Rather than smoke the marijuana, Health Canada is advising people to ingest the plant in tea or by eating it. Does Health Canada recommend that asthma sufferers refrain from inhaling from their puffer but instead make tea or eat a pill?ego transcendence follows ego destruction, why is the Health Canada and the Canadian federal government so intent on ignoring the experience of medical cannabis patients and compassion clubs?
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