Pubdate: Tue, 09 Dec 2003
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2003, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.canoe.com/NewsStand/TorontoSun/home.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Stephanie Rubec, Ottawa Bureau
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

FEDS EASE LAWS FOR POT

Approved Smokers Can Now Pay Growers

By STEPHANIE RUBEC

OTTAWA -- In a bid to boost the availability of pot, the feds have softened 
medicinal marijuana rules. Health Canada announced yesterday that it's okay 
to pay a licensed grower for their weed. And the department also cut down 
on the red tape in the application process. It now only requires a patient 
to obtain the recommendation from one medical specialist -- not two.

Health Canada spokesman Catherine Saunders said the move responds to an 
Ontario Court of Appeal ruling in October that criticized the federal 
medicinal marijuana program for making it too difficult to get access to 
pot. By striking down rules that require a licensed grower to provide 
medicinal marijuana for free, Saunders said Health Canada hopes more people 
might be willing to cultivate the crop.

"It might make it more available when you compensate the licensed grower," 
Saunders said. "Basically, you can pay a fee for a service rendered."

ONE USER

Saunders said there are no changes to the rule that licensed growers can 
only provide pot to one user and a maximum of three people can pool their 
resources to grow medicinal marijuana.

"It wouldn't become a business in that you can only grow for one person," 
she said.

The feds provide 30 seeds for $20. Dried marijuana is also being provided 
by Ottawa for the bargain price of $5 a gram -- about $10 cheaper than it 
goes for on the street.

Health Canada has okayed 697 Canadians for possessing marijuana for medical 
purposes and another 530 people are allowed to cultivate pot -- most of 
them in Ontario.

The feds have received and approved 75 requests for pot or marijuana seeds 
from Canadians who have permission to possess it.
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