Pubdate: Thu, 08 May 2014 Source: Peace Arch News (CN BC) Copyright: 2014 Peace Arch News Contact: http://www.peacearchnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1333 Author: Joy Davies MARIJUANA IS A HEALTH ISSUE Editor: Re: Medical pot splits doctors, April 29. I applaud Dr. William Cavers for acknowledging the atrocious federal government barriers of access to medical cannabis - which has now been legal in Canada for 14 years - and the harm being caused to patients. Neither doctors or patients have been seriously consulted during the redefinition of this program. This is not a surprise since the federal government is the wrong legislative platform for medical programs. The provincial governments are the right legislative platforms for medical programs, according to our Canada Health Act. Until our federal government allows the provinces to do their job, there will be wasted taxpayers' dollars, unnecessary suffering and deaths of those with health issues. This is not acceptable. That being said, our provincial government needs to lead the way and start the dialogue. We, the Canadian Medical Cannabis Partners, have been lobbying our provincial governments to strike a task force to set parameters for a provincial medical-cannabis program that brings dignity to patients. Over the past four years we have met with, presented to, written and phoned municipal, provincial and federal elected officials, yet remain unheard. We have now written Dr. Cavers and hope that the doctors in our province will help the patients to engage Premier Christy Clark and Minister of Health Terry Lake. If our elected officials will not hear the hundreds of thousands of B.C. citizens with health issues maybe they will listen to our doctors and take action. Joy Davies, White Rock