Pubdate: Fri, 22 Feb 2013
Source: Medicine Hat News (CN AB)
Copyright: 2013 Alberta Newspaper Group, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.medicinehatnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1833
Author: Charles Lefebvre

MEDICINAL POT BACKERS PROTEST OUTSIDE MP OFFICE

Medical marijuana activists in Medicine Hat held a demonstration in 
front of MP LaVar Payne's office Thursday afternoon to protest 
proposed changes to federal medical marijuana laws which were 
introduced last year.

"The new regulations would take away the patient's right to grow 
their own medicine, as well as handing over the production and 
distribution of the medicine to large corporations," said Calli 
Walton, one of the demonstrators, a member of Medicine Hat College 
Student Association's chapter of Hempology 101. "Essentially, it 
would raise the prices and affect people who are low-income, on 
welfare or AISH benefits who would need medical marijuana."

The demonstrators say they received a lot of support from motorists 
passing by on Kingsway Avenue through the afternoon.

"A lot of people think the support would mainly come from the younger 
age group, but we've had a lot of support from people," said Walton. 
"There are a lot more people in support of medical marijuana in this town."

The changed regulations, known as Marihuana for Medical Purposes 
Regulations (MMPR), did not sit well with Dana Barkhouse, one of the 
demonstrators at the event, who uses medical marijuana as treatment 
for a variety of ailments, including arthritis and spinal cord pain.

"I'm against them," he said, adding he got into the personal 
production program last year. "For people growing for themselves, the 
end result, minus equipment costs . . . you end up paying 50 cents or 
less a gram. Health Canada, by 2015, wants to charge $8.80/gram. It 
is going to cost me almost $4,000 a month for me to have my medicine."

Payne was in a meeting with community members in his office during 
the demonstration, although demonstrators say he did acknowledge them 
prior to the meeting.

"He did take 10 minutes out of his day to speak with us and hear our 
concerns, we appreciate that," said demonstrator Kristen Mahn
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom