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The proposed changes to the Health Canada Marihuana Medical Access Regulations (MMAR) have now been released. The new proposed name is Health Canada Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR).
Sadly yet again the most vulnerable people in Canada (sick and dying) concerns and problems with the current failed program were pretty much ignored!
The time, effort and tax dollars was not all wasted by Health Canada on consulting with Canadians across the country up until June of 2012 when the consulting was ended
The positive for Health Canada was inviting currently illegal medical cannabis distribution efforts by reputable non profit medical cannabis organizations in Canada to join in the Health Canada consulting process. Health Canada has ignored the most important part of these organizations with their years of proof positive openly operating store front operations by proposing to allow for mail order only. Although mail order to your door is a positive it completely eliminates the very beneficial options of one on one personal access to qualified knowledgeable people. Friendly understanding staff, safe clean environment with access to quality and diversity of health care products all without the many risks of negative and even fatal side affects from pharmaceutical drugs.
Although one of the more serious restrictions has changed slowly over the years in regards the number of production licenses allowed at one location, from one to two to four all that has been been fought for in the courts over the last decade and more. Now the proposed changes allow for 51 production licenses and possible more over time.
The medical community knew full well very powerful law enforcement lobbying would have their way to continue to increase the already extremely restrictive prohibition of medical cannabis for well over a decade now. Health Canada has given in to law enforcement propaganda. War (drug war) equals bigger budgets to continue to expand personal, equipment and even allows for more control over every human being no less. Starting on November 6, 2012, harsher sentences for many drug offences came into force, including mandatory minimum sentences for cannabis.. The drug war of course also provides law enforcement many easy non violent targets. Mandatory minimum sentences for cannabis have already resulted in more and bigger prisons with the end results of gaining even more control over otherwise non violent law abiding citizens. Citizens that do contribute to the betterment of our communities in a responsible and positive manner in their daily lives.
In a regulated retail model quality and a diversity of products could be sold as has been done illegally for well over a decade by many reputable non profit medical cannabis organizations in Canada and the USA
A beer and wine regulation model allows for personal production at home and sharing freely with friends, mom and pop (micro) production operations right up to large corporate production we have now. The currently illegal medical cannabis distribution by non profit medical cannabis organizations in Canada and USA over the last decade alone have contributed to advancement in medical cannabis research and development has been very positive for millions of suffering human beings. Beer and wine type regulations will allow for so much more quicker advancement with much more resources made available for research and development. This also would allow the most Canadian’s rich or poor to access quality cannabis products in a responsible way.
Canada Gazette the official newspaper of the Government of Canada
Vol. 146, No. 50 — December 15, 2012
Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR)
“Cost-benefit statement: The main economic cost associated with the proposed MMPR would arise from the loss to consumers who may have to pay a higher price for dried marihuana. The analysis assumes a price increase from an estimated $1.80/g to $5.00/g in the status quo to about $7.60/g in 2014, rising to about $8.80/g, with a corresponding average annualized loss to consumers due to higher prices of approximately –$166.1M per year for 10 years.”
“individuals would be authorized to possess the lesser of 150 g or 30 times the daily quantity stipulated by the authorized health care practitioner.”
The proposed Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations would authorize the following key activities:
•the possession of dried marihuana by individuals who have the support of an authorized health care practitioner to use marihuana for medical purposes;
•the production of dried marihuana by licensed producers only; and
•the direct sale and distribution of dried marihuana by specific regulated parties to individuals who are eligible to possess it.
The proposed MMPR would also allow individuals who hold an authorization to possess under the MMAR to transition to the new framework using their authorization for up to one year after its date of issue (unless a period of usage of less than 12 months has been indicated in the medical declaration). Individuals could also transition using a medical declaration issued under the MMAR
Licences to produce issued under the current MMAR would be phased out, while renewals would continue normally. New licences to produce would not be issued if the application is submitted after September 30, 2013, because there would not be enough time to produce a crop before the repeal of the MMAR on March 31, 2014. Licences to produce would also not be amended for a site change after September 30, 2013, for the same reason (see “Implementation, enforcement and service standards”). All licences to produce would end on March 31, 2014.
1. Possession of dried marihuana by individuals who have the support of an authorized health care practitioner
The proposed MMPR would include a new definition of authorized health care practitioner that includes physicians in all provinces and territories (P/Ts), and would also include nurse practitioners in P/Ts where supporting access to marihuana for medical purposes is included under their scope of practice or in legislation. This is consistent with Health Canada’s approach to other controlled drugs and substances used for medical purposes in the New Classes of Practitioners Regulations (NCPR).
We encourge you to submit your comments until the February 28, 2013 deadline to:
Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulatory Reform,
Controlled Substances and Tobacco Directorate,
Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch,
Health Canada,
Address Locator: AL3503D
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9
E-mail: consultations-marihuana@hc-sc.gc.ca This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Facsimile: 613-941-7240
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