Pubdate: Fri, 05 Jul 2013
Source: Cape Breton Post (CN NS)
Copyright: 2013 Cape Breton Post
Contact:  http://www.capebretonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/777
Author: Leona Aglukkaq
Note: Leona Aglukkaq is the federal minister of health.

FEDS IMPLEMENT GREATER CONTROLS ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

While the courts have ruled Canadians must have reasonable access to 
a legal source of marijuana for medical purposes, the federal 
government believes this must be done in a controlled fashion in 
order to protect public safety.

On June 10, the federal government announced the new marijuana for 
medical purposes regulations. These regulations are intended to 
provide reasonable access for those Canadians who need marijuana for 
medical purposes while protecting public safety.

When the marijuana medical access program was introduced in 2001 in 
response to the court decision, the number of people authorized to 
use marijuana for medical purposes stood at fewer than 500. Over the 
years, that number has grown to more than 30,000. As a result, costs 
to taxpayers have continued to climb as Health Canada heavily 
subsidizes the production and distribution of marijuana for medical purposes.

As well, under the current program, Canadians can apply to grow 
marijuana for medical purposes in private homes or buy from Health 
Canada. The ability of individuals to produce marijuana in private 
homes has added to public health, safety and security risks, as 
criminal elements have abused the system.

The government's goal is to treat dried marijuana as much as possible 
like other narcotics used for medical purposes under the new 
regulations by creating conditions for a new, commercial industry 
that will be responsible for its production and distribution. Health 
Canada will return to its traditional role as a regulator.

Licensed producers will provide access to quality-controlled 
marijuana for medical purposes, produced under secure and sanitary 
conditions, to those Canadians who need it, while strengthening the 
safety of Canadian communities.

In line with other controlled substances, personal and designated 
production will be phased out. This will reduce the health and safety 
risks, such as fire and toxic mould hazards, to individuals and to 
the Canadian public, while allowing for a quality-controlled and more 
secure product for medical use.

Under the new regulations, licensed producers will have to meet 
extensive security and quality control requirements, including 
requesting security clearance for certain key positions, and meeting 
physical security requirements (such as a security system that 
detects intruders). Licensed producers will also be subject to 
compliance and enforcement measures, and dried marijuana will only be 
shipped through a secure delivery service directly to the address the 
client has specified.

Taken together, these measures will reduce the risks of diversion of 
marijuana to illicit markets.

Under the new regulations, the fundamental role of health providers 
does not change. The responsibility to assess a patient and decide on 
appropriate treatment continues to rest with health-care 
practitioners. The new regulations have created a streamlined process 
for those needing access to marijuana for medical purposes, 
eliminating the need for individuals to share health information with 
Health Canada.

To help support health-care practitioners in making decisions about 
whether marijuana is an appropriate treatment option, an expert 
advisory committee was created to assist in providing health-care 
practitioners with comprehensive, accurate and up-to-date information 
on the known uses of marijuana for medical purposes. More information 
is available on the Health Canada website.

The government understands the need to continue to provide reasonable 
access to a legal source of marijuana for medical purposes, and the 
new regime does so in a manner that is consistent with the way access 
is provided for other narcotics used for medical purposes. This more 
appropriately balances the needs of patients with the health, safety 
and security of all Canadians.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom