Pubdate: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 Source: London Free Press (CN ON) Copyright: 2013 The London Free Press Contact: http://www.lfpress.com/letters Website: http://www.lfpress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/243 Author: Jonathan Sher Page: A2 MEDICAL POT USERS FACING PRODUCTION D-DAY Healthcare: Users now able to grow their own drug fear higher costs under looming newfederal crackdown will force them to buy their marijuana on the street Londoner Michael Barron doesn't want to become a criminal, but says he has no choice. He may well be the face of a problem coming as the deadline nears for a crackdown on who's allowed to produce medicinal marijuana in Canada. For six years, Barron has depended upon medical marijuana prescribed by his doctor to take the edge off the pain from a variety of chronic ailments such as neuropathic pain syndrome. But starting Oct. 1, Health Canada is making changes that will drive up the cost of the drug into the stratosphere - Barron would have to pay $3,390 for a month's supply, more than triple his only source of income, an Ontario disability payment. That will leave Barron turning to street dealers - and he could very well be one of thousands, as the scramble begins by medical marijuana users suddenly facing the tougher new federal rules. "I'm being made to feel like a criminal because I will have to go to the street to buy my medicine," said Barron, who didn't want to use his real last name because his family gets upset by the attention. He won't be alone. Health Canada estimates it has approved medical marijuana use for 30,000 Canadians and the number has grown at such a pace the agency predicts there could be 50,000 by next year. Until now, most of those users grew marijuana themselves or found someone who would do it for them, often in a home with little overhead. They could even buy the drug through Health Canada for a subsidized rate of $5 a gram. But that regime is being phased out - starting Oct. 1, no one new will be able to grow medical marijuana for themselves or someone else and starting next April only licensed and heavily regulated commercial producers will be allowed to grow the stuff. Health Canada predicts the changes will cause the price of medical marijuana to rise quickly, with users having to pay an extra $1.66 billion over 10 years. "They'll all go back to the street," said Aaron Bott, president of a group that had been helping medical marijuana users find the drug at lower costs, Mobile Access Compassionate Resources Organization Society in Edmonton. "(Health Canada is) giving it back to the underground cartels who aren't scared to keep growing." While marijuana is generally an illegal drug to grow and sell in Canada, courts here have carved out an exception for medical use, saying such users need access. Those court rulings led Health Canada to create a system that it's now phasing out, one that let patients or people they designate grow marijuana in their homes. "Growth in program participation has had unintended consequences for the administration of the (program), but more importantly, for public health, safety and security," Health Canada wrote in explaining the need for new regulations. "Municipalities and first responders, such as fire and police officials, have raised serious public health and safety concerns regarding production of marijuana in private dwellings," Health Canada wrote. As of Oct. 1, Health Canada will no longer accept new applications to produce in homes. On April 1, 2014, the old program will be over and users will only be able to get marijuana from a licensed, commercial producer. It remains to be seen how many people or companies will seek a licence or how many will be approved, an issue that would affect the supply of medical marijuana and its price. Not everyone will lose with the new scheme. Health Canada says it will save money not having to process applications and that the new, licensed producers will see extra dough, too. "(There will be benefits) to producers due to a higher market price and a reduction in economic inefficiency from the removal of current government subsidies on marijuana sold by Health Canada," the agency wrote in an analysis of the costs and benefits of the new program. - --------------------------------------------- [sidebar] OLD PROGRAM Doctors write prescriptions for marijuana for patients who aren't helped with standard treatments. Patients seek approval from Health Canada. Decisions take about 10 weeks. Approved patients can grow marijuana, designate someone without a criminal drug conviction the past 10 years to grow it for them, or pay Health Canada $5 a gram for marijuana grown for the regulator. NEW PROGRAM Patients won't be allowed to grow marijuana themselves, designate someone to do so or buy it through Health Canada. Health Canada will license growers who must produce it in commercial facilities with documented security and record keeping and notify local authorities of the production. All key people in the operation must obtain security clearance. Marijuana must be chemically tested, properly stored and shipped in a package that is sealed and tracked. BY THE NUMBERS 30,000: Canadians who have the OK to use medical marijuana 50,000: Those expected to be approved for use by 2014 given the program's growth $1.6 billion: How much extra medical marijuana users will have to pay over 10 years when the new, more restrictive regime takes effect $5/gram: Subsidized price Health Canada now charges for medical marijuana. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt