[Viva] PLEASE EMAIL HEALTH CANADAl

[James and Ally Keating]

  Margarite,
      Thanks so much for posting this link out to our ViVA Listserv. When I saw you had also done this I was so gratefull, I know expressed I was going to post a message to listserv but I did not get to it for a couple days. When I did go on line, you had already sent one. This was great as we are dealing with a time sensitive issue and my delay wasn"t helpful...so thanks for doing this. I too have sent my reply in to Health Canada but I also want to include a bit here for our ViVA friends about this issue.     
      I am very opposed to the proposed changes to Health Canada's Marihuana Medical Access Program. I agree and have the same concerns as stated by Margarite about how the proposed changes would make it illegal for licensed persons to produce (grow) their own Medical Marihuana and would force us to buy from a Licensed Commercial Grower. I also have concerns about other aspects of the proposed changes including that the Commercaial Growers would be able to set their own price for selling the marihuana, makeing this a for profit medicine for which the users will have no choice but pay. 
      I am also concerned because Health Canada is proposing to take themselves almost completely out of the loop in dealing with the medical marihuana user. What they want to do is to stop issuing licenses to posses. Their suggestion is to have the commercial grower be responsible for validating the medical validity of the patient request and doctor's recomendation. The proposed way in which they want to have a medical user show they are able to legally possess the marihuana is to have the commercial grower put some kind of sticker with the growers verification on the bag of marihuana they sell to the patient. This would mean that the only way I would not be breaking the law is if I was willing to buy this medicine from one of these growers and have it in their baggy...any other way and I am committing an illegal act. 
      I do not like this and I don't  trust this system. I do not like having some random person deciding if I am eligable for medical marihuana or having access to medical information about me. I do not like the idea of being forced to buY from a FOR PROFIT MARIHUANA grower who will be more interested on thier bottom line than my health. I do not like that I am not legal if I don't buy from one of these Commercial Growers and I have nothing in my wallet to keep me from being arrested if I don't buy from them. 
      As for not being allowed to grow for myself, this is a big loss for us. Being one who does not smoke but who consumes marihuana once simmered in milk, I can go through alot. This would be so cost prohibatitive to me to have to buy each and every gram. Furthermore, growing our medical marihuana has been so very good for my husband. There are times when he's been so very sick and through growing he began getting outside, digging in the ground, getting sunshine and fresh air. It helped his health in more ways than just smoking. I would hate for him to lose this or to be made a criminal after 9 years of legal growing...it doesn't make sense.
      The notification letter I recieved states that these "proposed changes would reduce the risk of abuse and exploitation by criminal elements". I believe the proposed changes will actually increase the probability and possability of this happening. Once you turn the suply of Medical Marihuana into a "FOR PROFIT BUSINESS" you can bet organized crime will be right there. I truely believe that our government could be setting this program up to fail, which I believe these changes will do. I think this is happening in direct relation to our Federal Governments desire to be liked by the American Government. I think it is wrong that sick Canadians could lose thier access to healthy outdoor grow by self marihuana simply because our government want's to be seen in a good light by our American neighbors.  
      Thanks all for giving me a place to express my concerns about these proposed changes. If you have an opinion then pleas send an e-mail, short or long, to the link listed in the message below.....Ally
   Mon, Jul 25, 2011 at 10:56 PM, Margarite Sanchez <margaritesanchez at gmail.com> wrote:

    PLEASE PLEASE if you are a supporter of Medical Marihuana write a short email to Health Canada letting them know that their new proposed changes "Proposed Improvements to Health Canada's Marihuana Medical Access Program" are NOT acceptable. This will make it illegal for license holders to produce their own supply.
    Write to them at: consultations-marihuana at hc-sc.gc.ca

    That means that those of us who use marihuana medicinally will have to buy indoor grown, chemically fertilized from government approved growers. We won't have control over the quality and won't know if there is mold. Not to mention the expense!
    This needs to be done before July 31st.
    Thank you, ox
    Margarite

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