cannabisnews.com: Toronto Man Expresses Relief as He Picks Up Pot





Toronto Man Expresses Relief as He Picks Up Pot
Posted by CN Staff on August 26, 2003 at 16:15:30 PT
By Tara Brautigam
Source: Canadian Press 
Toronto -- An HIV infected man, who is among the first of about 500 Canadians legally approved for medicinal marijuana, took his first toke of government-grown weed after picking it up from his doctor Tuesday. "I'd give it a five on a scale from one to 10," said Jari Dvorak, who received a call Monday saying his two 30-gram bags of marijuana had been couriered and were ready to smoke. Despite the mediocre review, he said it was a significant day for medicinal marijuana users nationwide.
"It's a happy moment for a lot of sick people in Canada," he said. "We should rejoice. This is the beginning of something Canada can be proud of." Dvorak, who says marijuana helps him combat nausea, applied to Health Canada a month ago for access to government weed. He is one of only six people expected to receive the drug from doctors for the time being. Health Canada is currently looking over 14 more applications, said spokeswoman Jirina Vlk. The marijuana, sealed in glossy, golden packages emblazoned with a red Maple Leaf, comes from a subterranean lab in Flin Flon, Man., where it is being grown by Prairie Plant Systems under contract to the federal government. Each 30-gram pack costs $150 - about $100 cheaper than street prices - and is subject to provincial and federal sales tax. Dvorak, who has been smoking pot to cope with his illness for seven years, held a party to test the marijuana Tuesday afternoon. He said despite the approval of Health Canada, his doctor was still not entirely comfortable with supplying him with marijuana. However, Dvorak said it gives him peace of mind to know he now has easier access to the drug. "I don't want to be a criminal when I'm buying the medication from dealers," he said, adding that getting marijuana from pharmacies or compassion clubs would be a better alternative. "It's no big deal to get pot these days, but it's costing a lot of money." Doctors are wary of giving out marijuana due to its uncertain legal status and health benefits, putting them "in a difficult position," said John Maxted, director of health policy and communication for the College of Family Physicians of Canada. "We need to acknowledge there doesn't appear yet to be sufficient research whether there is definite long-term effects with the use of marijuana," he said. Critics have frequently questioned Health Minister Anne McLellan's commitment to the medical marijuana program set up by her predecessor Allan Rock. McLellan has said she doesn't believe Health Canada should be in the business of distributing cannabis, and has indicated that will end if her ministry wins its appeal of an Ontario ruling currently before the courts. A decision is not expected until September at the earliest, said defence lawyer Alan Young. Complete Title: Toronto Man Expresses Relief as He Picks Up Medicinal Pot from Doctor Source: Canadian Press Author: Tara BrautigamPublished: Tuesday, August 26, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Canadian PressRelated Articles & Web Sites:Canadians for Safe Accesshttp://www.safeaccess.ca/Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmToronto Man Picks Up Medicinal Pot from Doctorhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17157.shtmlMedical Marijuana To Sell for $5 Per Gramhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17010.shtmlMedicinal Marijuana Use Divides Physicianshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16837.shtml 
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Comment #5 posted by herbdoc215 on August 26, 2003 at 22:45:13 PT
BGreen, Prarie Plant was forced to "CUT" it!!
They actually made them "CUT" it to 10% THC with LEAF...is that crazy or what? Hell our club sells theSAME WHOLE buds for $4-8 CDN a gram (psst..for c-news'ers here's a cool thing...call 1-604-875-0448 and at recording press 2 and you can listen to our menu of the day plus descripts as well as prices...we get so many calls from folks all over everyday just wishing....I have been trying to get Hillary to put a .25 cent charge on it too make a couple bucks for the members???) and we also ship all over Canada to patients and we got alot more members than HC so we'll see who ends up supplying whom. As for price I am astounded they are charging 5 bucks a gram when I gave them EVERY seed they got for free and they promised it would be given out to patients, hell USA and shrub at least give their swag away??? Ann McClellen belongs in jail! 10% my ass, if smokings bad for you why water it down and make'em smoke more Ann? I just hope someday God has more mercy on her and rest of the "Liberals" souls than they have shown for us patients here. I am so mad over Richard Cowan having to resign from the NORML foundation board over Kampia's crap I can't type rational so I'll just leave it at that for now. Peace from exile, Steve Tuck
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Comment #4 posted by ekim on August 26, 2003 at 20:05:01 PT
thanks Marc
i been wondering what the DNA herb test was devised for.
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Comment #3 posted by Marc Paquette on August 26, 2003 at 19:20:05 PT:
Poor Jari :o(
Well..now you know what kind of shwagg they have and you are now stuck with it. Now, if you want a higher quality, you can't get it without breaking the law because you signed a promise that you will not get supplied by anyone else but them...and if you do buy a better quality from someone else and get stooled by a rat..you might lose your exemption. You are now stuck with the "MONSTERS" of Health ("Hell") Canada...all of that trouble for "shwagg" at $150.00 an ounce when it was suppose to be "free of charge" for research and authorized users (Exemptees)..see Health Canada's 2000-116 document on their web site. Now, poor Jari is legally tied with that weed and he also agreed paying $150 per ounce for it. Sometimes, desperation makes people do some weird things. Poor Jari. It will serve as a lesson for other Exemptees in NOT doing this sad move!Peace,Marc
Poor Jari :o(
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Comment #2 posted by mayan on August 26, 2003 at 17:27:55 PT
Mediocre Medicine = Mediocre Results
The government doesn't want to distribute high-grade cannabis. If they did then less of it would need to be smoked & it's true efficacy would be revealed. If they distribute mediocre medicine then the patients will see mediocre results. How dare they not give these sick individuals the best possible medicine!The way out is the way in...Protester poses as reporter, asks Ashcroft when the next 9/11 will be!!!
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030821/pl_nm/security_ashcroft_dcNothing Urgent - The Morning of 9/11:
http://nypress.com/inside.cfm?content_id=5693More 9/11 Links:
http://www.geocities.com/sept11links/
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Comment #1 posted by BGreen on August 26, 2003 at 16:55:02 PT
Gov't Schwag Grown By Amateurs
This company had ZERO experience in cannabis production and apparently didn't look to the cannabis experts for advice. The quality of seeds provided by our friend Steve Tuck weren't a "5" on a scale of 1 to 10, so the lack of quality comes from the growing and curing process.The Rev. Bud Green
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