Canada Unveils New Regulation for Use of Marijuana |
Posted by FoM on July 04, 2001 at 18:47:08 PT By Tom Cohen, Associated Press Writer Source: Associated Press New regulations expanding the legal use of medical marijuana will allow people with terminal or debilitating illnesses to possess and cultivate pot, or designate someone to do it for them. But the Canadian Medical Association opposed the rules announced Wednesday, saying that too little is known about the possible harm from the drug. The guidelines take effect July 30, meeting a court-ordered deadline for the government to create the regulatory system. "Today's announcement is a landmark in our ongoing effort to give Canadians suffering from grave and debilitating illnesses access to marijuana for medical purposes," Health Minister Allan Rock said. "This compassionate measure will improve the quality of life of sick Canadians, particularly those who are terminally ill." The regulations create categories of people who could possess marijuana, including those with specified terminal illnesses with a prognosis of death within one year and others with symptoms associated with serious medical conditions. The second category would include patients with severe arthritis, cancer, HIV/AIDS and multiple sclerosis. "These regulations are placing Canadian physicians and their patients in the precarious position of attempting to access a product that has not gone through the normal protocols of rigorous pre-market testing," said Dr. Hugh Scully, past president of the Canadian Medical Association, which represents 50,000 physicians. The regulations were drawn up after a court ruling last year that gave the government until July 31 to change criminal laws so that people requiring marijuana for medicinal purposes could legally obtain and possess it. Canada already has a legal industry for hemp -- cannabis cultivated with very low amounts of the chemical that produces the high sought by marijuana smokers -- while the U.S. federal government prohibits hemp production. The Canadian Supreme Court also has agreed to consider a case that argues criminalizing marijuana is unconstitutional because the drug poses no significant health threat. Complete Title: Canada Unveils New Regulations for Expanding the Legal Use of Medical Marijuana Source: Associated Press Health Canada Canadian Links Federal Regulations On Medicinal Pot Rock Announces Medical Marijuana Regulations CannabisNews Articles - Canada Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
Comment #1 posted by Jose Melendez on July 04, 2001 at 19:26:38 PT:
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"These regulations are placing Canadian physicians and their patients in the precarious position of attempting to access a product that has not gone through the normal protocols of rigorous pre-market testing," said Dr. Hugh Scully, past president of the Canadian Medical Association, which represents 50,000 physicians. " sure, doc. http://www.healthwatcher.net/indy715.html ...Auto racers are paid millions of dollars, when our arts communities are having to fall back on tobacco money to just exist. Somehow the doctors of Ontario have failed to rally to the cause. Instead of working for tobacco and beer companies, Hugh Scully and his friends should be asking their brothers and sisters of the OMA to fund these events. But, I don't think that would sell air time for the CBC, or ABC sports. When one of Toronto's museums was closed down a few years ago because of governments inability to pay staff, where was Molsons, Philip Morris, and Dr. Hugh Scully? Were they planning another tobacco and beer campaign on the Waterfront? Hanging the word Molson around Dr. Scully's neck reminds me of the noose around a criminal just before the trap door is dropped. A coroner's inquest must be held and Dr. Scully and his friends in the medical community, without whom this event would just be another quiet Sunday afternoon in Toronto, must be held to task for not looking after the safety of their patients, the drivers and volunteers of the hired guns of Molson and Players, both of them owned by tobacco lords. The red flag is out. But, I'm not holding my breath for any investigation of the real causes of the accident. Dr. Scully is going to hide behind the corporate veil, and will never be held accountable. The University of Toronto professor should step down from his position at the university, and bear his soul to those of us who want our pound of flesh. Terry Polevoy, MD from:
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