T
The420Guy
Guest
Washington, DC: Canadian regulations issued last week which authorize the
use and cultivation of medical marijuana are a positive step for patients
who need it to relieve their pain and suffering, NORML Executive Director
R. Keith Stroup, Esq. said today.
"This proposal, though far from perfect, is a legitimate attempt by
Parliament to license and regulate the use of medical marijuana for
seriously ill patients," he added. "It is ironic that Health Canada
issued these regulations only days after our own government told
America's highest court that marijuana has no acceptable medical value, a
position that runs contrary not only to the scientific evidence, but also
to worldwide public opinion. U.S. officials would be better advised to
follow Canada's lead and reschedule marijuana to permit its licensed use
and distribution to those patients whose doctors recommend it."
According to statements published in Friday's Canada Gazette, the
proposed regulations will "provide seriously ill Canadian patients with
access to marijuana while it is being researched as a possible medicine."
Health Canada issued the regulations in response to a recent Ontario
Court of Appeals ruling that found marijuana prohibition to be
unconstitutional because it failed to provide an exception for medical
use. The Court ordered Parliament to implement rules allowing for
patients to use marijuana by July 31, 2001.
The proposal authorizes patients to grow and use marijuana under "special
medical circumstances only." Qualifying patients must suffer from a
terminal illness or suffer from symptoms associated with a serious
medical condition such as AIDS or multiple sclerosis. Patients who find
symptomatic relief from marijuana, but who are not terminal, must possess
the recommendation of a general practitioner and a medical specialist
certifying that they have found all other alternative therapies to be
ineffective.
Stroup said it was unfortunate that Canadian health officials were
holding marijuana up to a higher standard than other medications. "The
traditional yardstick for legal medications is that they demonstrate
safety and medical efficacy. Marijuana should not be held up to a
different standard."
Under the guidelines, qualifying patients will be allowed to possess a
30-day supply of marijuana at one time. Either the patients or their
recognized caregiver will be permitted to grow marijuana for medical use.
In the past year, Canadian officials have implemented several policy
changes to address the medical marijuana issue. Last year, Parliament
issued a contract to a private Saskatoon firm to grow marijuana for
medical research, and began issuing legal exemptions to individual
patients who use marijuana as a medicine. Health Canada will no longer
issue exemptions once the proposed regulations take effect.
The public has 30 days to comment on the proposed rules, which appear
online at:
https://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpb-dgps/therapeut/zfiles/english/schedule/gazette.i
/marihuana_e.pdf.
For more information, please contact either Keith Stroup or Paul
Armentano of NORML at (202) 483-5500.
NORML Foundation
1001 Connecticut Ave., NW
Ste. 710
Washington, DC 20036
202-483-8751 (p)
202-483-0057 (f)
www.norml.org
foundation@norml.org
use and cultivation of medical marijuana are a positive step for patients
who need it to relieve their pain and suffering, NORML Executive Director
R. Keith Stroup, Esq. said today.
"This proposal, though far from perfect, is a legitimate attempt by
Parliament to license and regulate the use of medical marijuana for
seriously ill patients," he added. "It is ironic that Health Canada
issued these regulations only days after our own government told
America's highest court that marijuana has no acceptable medical value, a
position that runs contrary not only to the scientific evidence, but also
to worldwide public opinion. U.S. officials would be better advised to
follow Canada's lead and reschedule marijuana to permit its licensed use
and distribution to those patients whose doctors recommend it."
According to statements published in Friday's Canada Gazette, the
proposed regulations will "provide seriously ill Canadian patients with
access to marijuana while it is being researched as a possible medicine."
Health Canada issued the regulations in response to a recent Ontario
Court of Appeals ruling that found marijuana prohibition to be
unconstitutional because it failed to provide an exception for medical
use. The Court ordered Parliament to implement rules allowing for
patients to use marijuana by July 31, 2001.
The proposal authorizes patients to grow and use marijuana under "special
medical circumstances only." Qualifying patients must suffer from a
terminal illness or suffer from symptoms associated with a serious
medical condition such as AIDS or multiple sclerosis. Patients who find
symptomatic relief from marijuana, but who are not terminal, must possess
the recommendation of a general practitioner and a medical specialist
certifying that they have found all other alternative therapies to be
ineffective.
Stroup said it was unfortunate that Canadian health officials were
holding marijuana up to a higher standard than other medications. "The
traditional yardstick for legal medications is that they demonstrate
safety and medical efficacy. Marijuana should not be held up to a
different standard."
Under the guidelines, qualifying patients will be allowed to possess a
30-day supply of marijuana at one time. Either the patients or their
recognized caregiver will be permitted to grow marijuana for medical use.
In the past year, Canadian officials have implemented several policy
changes to address the medical marijuana issue. Last year, Parliament
issued a contract to a private Saskatoon firm to grow marijuana for
medical research, and began issuing legal exemptions to individual
patients who use marijuana as a medicine. Health Canada will no longer
issue exemptions once the proposed regulations take effect.
The public has 30 days to comment on the proposed rules, which appear
online at:
https://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpb-dgps/therapeut/zfiles/english/schedule/gazette.i
/marihuana_e.pdf.
For more information, please contact either Keith Stroup or Paul
Armentano of NORML at (202) 483-5500.
NORML Foundation
1001 Connecticut Ave., NW
Ste. 710
Washington, DC 20036
202-483-8751 (p)
202-483-0057 (f)
www.norml.org
foundation@norml.org
