Pubdate: Wed, 18 Apr 2007 Source: Chatham Daily News, The (CN ON) Page: 9 Copyright: 2007 OSPREY Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.chathamdailynews.ca Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1627 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?232 (Chronic Pain) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Prairie+Plant+Systems POT MARKUP HURTS Drug dealers make their money on how much they mark up their product. The street value of what they're peddling is significantly higher than what they pay their suppliers for the illicit drugs. But we expect they're all drooling at the profits the federal government reaps when it sells dope - medicinal marijuana. Street dealers wouldn't be in business if they sold marijuana for 15 times more than what they paid for it. But the federal government does just that, and gets away with it, as it operates in a monopoly. Pity the people who need the medicinal marijuana for pain management. Often the people who use the federally controlled marijuana are on fixed incomes and are in extreme and constant pain. Yet if they can't pay their exorbitant dope bills, the feds will cut off the medicine. Some health care system - the government is profiting nicely at the expense of some of society's more seriously ill citizens. Health Canada is a reluctant drug dealer, forced into the business by our legal system, where court decisions accept scientific research that states marijuana can relieve pain where other medications fail. There are 1,742 patients authorized by Health Canada to possess dried pot for medication. More than 1,000 of them are also licensed to grow their own. But all can order marijuana through Health Canada's underground (as in down a mine shaft in Manitoba) supplier, Prairie Plant Systems, and have medicinal pot Purolated out to them. Health Canada pays $328.75 per kilogram of marijuana from Prairie Plant Systems. It sells a 30-gram bag (and there are 33-plus such bags in one kilogram of pot), for $150 - plus GST. At that price, Health Canada sells the dope for $5,000 per kilogram, a mark up of 1,500 per cent. It's no surprise to see nearly a third of the patients who do order the government dope are now in arrears. They owe their dealer, Health Canada, more than $143,000. The federal government may not like the fact it's in the dope selling business, despite the needs of their customers. But do what is best for those in need. Don't gouge your medicinal users like too many pharmaceutical giants do south of the border. Treat them with respect. These people are forced to use marijuana because of their pain, not because they want to get high. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake