Pubdate: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 Source: Medicine Hat News (CN AB) Copyright: 2014 Alberta Newspaper Group, Inc. Contact: http://www.medicinehatnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1833 Author: Alex McCuaig MORE OPPOSITION TO POT REGULATIONS A Medicine Hat owner of a marijuana paraphernalia store and regional director of an organization looking to reform laws surrounding the drug are voicing their concern of Canada's new medicinal pot laws. Keith Fagin, prairies director for National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Canada (NORML), says there are some good things about the new Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR). "The good thing is they're expanding from one commercial supplier over the last 10 years to multiple commercial suppliers," said Fagin. "They are allowing nurse practitioners to sign (applications), That's another good part." But Fagin says the new regulations, which came into effect on Monday, don't allow for the purchase or use of marijuana products that can easily be infused with food to allow for the drug to be ingested rather than smoked. "We're not allowed to do that except in B.C. because they got a court order that's under appeal right now," said Fagin. "There are no provisions in the new program for this, which is completely inappropriate." He says though, it is the price and quality issues with the product raising the biggest concerns, with a B.C. Federal Court judge ruling those who previously had a licence to grow their own marijuana can continue to do so. The federal government has launched an appeal of that decision. Fagin says those growing pot themselves can produce the drug for between 50 cents and $2 a gram. "One way or another, it's going to go to the Supreme Court," said Fagin. "So we'll be able to continue growing for the foreseeable future - we think. There is no guarantee ... We are left up in the air here." He says licence holders growing the drug themselves can also produce strains to specifically address their ailments, whether it's for epilepsy or MS. Pattie Vivier, owner of Hemp Town Rock, says there are dozens if not hundreds of Hatters who currently have medicinal marijuana licences to deal with a range of reasons, from arthritis to cancer as well as a span of ages from early 20s to mid 70s. She says her customers dealing with terminal illness are also on fixed-incomes with costs associated with travelling to Calgary for treatment. With the price of the drug currently around five times the cost of what a person can produce it themselves, "that's a huge part of their income," said Vivier. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D