Pubdate: Tue, 09 Jul 2013
Source: Prince Albert Daily Herald (CN SN)
Copyright: 2013 Prince Albert Daily Herald
Contact:  http://www.paherald.sk.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1918
Author: Leona Aglukkaq
Page: 4

MARIJUANA REGULATIONS BALANCE MEDICAL, SECURITY ISSUES

To the editor:

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

On June 10, the Government of Canada announced the new Marijuana for
Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR). 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 less 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 for 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 MMPR 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 MMPR, 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 MMPR 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-todate 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.

Leona Aglukkaq Minister of Health Ottawa
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MAP posted-by: Matt