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