Pubdate: Thu, 27 Mar 2014
Source: Recorder & Times, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Recorder and Times
Contact: http://www.recorder.ca/letters
Website: http://www.recorder.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2216
Author: Nick Gardiner
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

Deadline Looms for Private Medical Marijuana Producers

POT PURGATORY

Medical marijuana user Robert Knight is approaching a legal limbo.

Knight's licence to produce pot will be over-ridden at midnight 
Monday when he will be required instead to purchase product from a 
supplier under new marijuana for medical purposes rules introduced by 
Health Canada.

But Knight, who suffers from severe arthritis in his hands, can't 
expect delivery before the middle of April from the Tweed medical 
marijuana facility in Smiths Falls.

"There is nothing available until two weeks into April," he said.

"I don't expect the police to come knocking at my door the next day. 
But I'd like to know: am I legal or criminal? Where do I stand?"

The 67-year-old city resident plans to continue to access the 
formerly legal pot even after March 31 to treat his painful symptoms.

"I know it's illegal but I'm 67 years old and I've had medical 
clearance for marijuana since 1988. I'm not a kid looking for it on 
the street."

He said he uses a strain of marijuana that relieves pain and allows 
him to flex fingers which become fixed and stiff without the drug.

"The change it has made to my life is unbelievable."

Knight said he's not the only medical marijuana user in the area who 
is wondering if he will suddenly fall outside the law come Tuesday morning.

He said Health Canada has told user-producers to stop production and 
destroy leftover crop by midnight Monday.

Knight takes some solace in a federal court ruling in British 
Columbia last week which allows people licensed to grow pot to 
continue producing, despite a pending change to regulations.

Federal Judge Michael Manson granted an application Friday to 
preserve the status quo from a group of patients who plan a 
constitutional challenge of the law restricting production to 
commercial growers.

Higher costs for the approved product is one of the driving issues in 
the application and Knight agrees the price will rise significantly 
for commercially grown pot, making it harder for people on limited 
incomes to acquire the drug.

But he plans to buy legally, regardless, when the product is available.

Health Canada did not respond to questions about the issue by the end 
of the business day Wednesday.

A spokesman for the Tweed facility said there has been no dramatic 
increase in requests for marijuana as the deadline on local 
production approaches.

"Tweed is working as hard as possible to have product available for 
sale early in April but at this point we do not anticipate shipping 
product prior to April 1," said marketing manager Laura Norris.

Tweed CEO Chuck Rifici expects the court injunction will delay 
applications in the short term as local growers continue to produce 
their own supply until the legal issue is settled in court.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom