Pubdate: Tue, 23 Jul 2013
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2013 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Maryam Shah

PATIENT HOPES FOR POT LUCK

Goal: To Be Licensed Medical Marijuana Producer

Sam Mellace is itching to produce and sell medical marijuana as if it 
were any other drug.

A licensed patient and grower since 2003, Mellace was excited Monday 
as he signed his application in front of news cameras, formally 
marking his request to become Canada's first licensed medical 
marijuana producer.

"This application is one of the first to be presented to Health 
Canada, so that I can become a licensed producer, so that I can 
assist as many people as possible with the highest quality, best 
quality marijuana," Mellace said.

Revamped regulations by Health Canada mean licensed producers will 
soon serve medical marijuana to Canada's roughly 30,000 authorized users.

Previous rules meant patients requiring pot either got a licence to 
grow it at home or received the drug from a Health Canada contractor 
or designated growers.

Mellace's lawyer, Joseph Neuberger, said opening the market to 
licensed providers will result in better quality and fairly priced pot.

"Competition produces a better product," he said.

The use of medical pot hits home for Mellace. Unable to consume 
opiate-based drugs after a bad car accident, he credits medicinal 
weed for saving his life.

"If it wasn't for marijuana, I would be dead today," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom