Canada Patients Get Government Marijuana

DdC · 08-27-2003, 12:51 PM

Toronto -- Jari Dvorak scored two ounces of pot Tuesday and lit up, but - unlike in the past - the deal involved no back alley exchange or hiding from police.

This time, the 62-year-old Dvorak went to a doctor to pick up his supply, making him one of the first patients to receive government-grown marijuana. He paid $245, tax included.

"I just smoked some and it's doing the trick," said the HIV-positive Dvorak, one of several hundred Canadians authorized to use medical marijuana for pain, nausea and other symptoms of catastrophic or chronic illness.

The program announced last month by the federal health department provides marijuana grown by the government in a former copper mine turned underground greenhouse in northern Manitoba.

Dvorak described his new stash as light green and orange in color, resembling ground tobacco sealed in vacuum-packed bags. If he saw some lying around, he said, "I would say that's marijuana, especially if I sniff it."

Getting it has been a three-year struggle for Dvorak and other Canadian patients who have battled through the courts to make the government respond to what they call their need for a compassionate exemption from criminal law.

Marijuana possession remains a crime in Canada, though the government has proposed making small amounts - less than half an ounce - punishable by a citation and fine similar to a traffic ticket. U.S. officials have warned of tighter border security if Canada takes that step.

Last month, Health Minister Anne McLellan announced the program to sell the government-grown weed, satisfying an Ontario court order for the government to make a legal supply available to authorized patients. The court ruling said current laws made "seriously ill, vulnerable people deal with the criminal underworld to get medicine."

Under the program, qualified patients can get just over an ounce of dried pot for about $105, well below street prices. Authorized growers can buy packs of 30 seeds once a year for $15.

Dvorak's supply came with something he never had seen - a content analysis. He noted the THC content was 10.2 percent, compared to the range of 3 percent to 18 percent in most street marijuana. Tetrahydrocannabinol , or THC, is the psychoactive chemical in marijuana.

He smokes pot in the morning to soothe nausea from the HIV drugs he has taken for 15 years.

"I'm so happy the government is coming through with it," Dvorak said. "Are they going to carry on with it? We'll see."

McLellan has called the initial program an interim measure to satisfy the court order while the government appeals the ruling.

Canada unveiled plans for medical marijuana in 2000 and began growing a supply in the abandoned mine shaft in Flin Flon, Manitoba. New regulations took effect on July 30, 2001, expanding the number of Canadians allowed to use medical marijuana and allowing people to grow their own or designate someone to grow it for them.

The regulations also cleared the way for distribution of the government-grown pot, but McLellan's department later announced it needed further tests on the effects of medicinal marijuana and the quality of its pot before making any available.

That brought last year's court ruling ordering the government to offer a legal supply instead of making patients buy off the street.

Medical marijuana users complain the Canadian system has been a bureaucratic maze intended to stifle the issue instead of providing pot to those who need it. While hundreds have received federal exemptions to grow and possess marijuana, others say it is hard to find doctors to sign off on their requests.

Dvorak described himself as lucky because his "compassionate" doctor understands the need. He refused to give the doctor's name.

Nine U.S. states allow limited use of marijuana for medical purposes under the direction of a doctor: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

The Bush administration has asked the Supreme Court to decide whether the government can strip a doctor's license to prescribe drugs if medical marijuana is prescribed. It also has appealed a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that blocked the federal government from punishing doctors who prescribe medical marijuana

On the Net: Health Canada at: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca

Canada Patients Get Government Marijuana
Source: Associated Press
Author: Tom Cohen, Associated Press Writer
Published: August 26, 2003

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patriot · 08-27-2003, 06:03 PM

But that dangerous marijuana has no medical purpose. Just ask the "experts" of the Amerikkan Government and the DEAth Squads.

jeepster1013 · 08-27-2003, 07:25 PM

I was thinking patriot and you spelled amerikka wrong it should be ameriKKKa.

08-27-2003, 12:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
DdC Decade Yahookan Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Santa Cruz,CA,USA Posts: 2,117 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 51 Thanked 607 Times in 399 Posts	Canada Patients Get Government Marijuana Toronto -- Jari Dvorak scored two ounces of pot Tuesday and lit up, but - unlike in the past - the deal involved no back alley exchange or hiding from police. This time, the 62-year-old Dvorak went to a doctor to pick up his supply, making him one of the first patients to receive government-grown marijuana. He paid $245, tax included. "I just smoked some and it's doing the trick," said the HIV-positive Dvorak, one of several hundred Canadians authorized to use medical marijuana for pain, nausea and other symptoms of catastrophic or chronic illness. The program announced last month by the federal health department provides marijuana grown by the government in a former copper mine turned underground greenhouse in northern Manitoba. Dvorak described his new stash as light green and orange in color, resembling ground tobacco sealed in vacuum-packed bags. If he saw some lying around, he said, "I would say that's marijuana, especially if I sniff it." Getting it has been a three-year struggle for Dvorak and other Canadian patients who have battled through the courts to make the government respond to what they call their need for a compassionate exemption from criminal law. Marijuana possession remains a crime in Canada, though the government has proposed making small amounts - less than half an ounce - punishable by a citation and fine similar to a traffic ticket. U.S. officials have warned of tighter border security if Canada takes that step. Last month, Health Minister Anne McLellan announced the program to sell the government-grown weed, satisfying an Ontario court order for the government to make a legal supply available to authorized patients. The court ruling said current laws made "seriously ill, vulnerable people deal with the criminal underworld to get medicine." Under the program, qualified patients can get just over an ounce of dried pot for about $105, well below street prices. Authorized growers can buy packs of 30 seeds once a year for $15. Dvorak's supply came with something he never had seen - a content analysis. He noted the THC content was 10.2 percent, compared to the range of 3 percent to 18 percent in most street marijuana. Tetrahydrocannabinol , or THC, is the psychoactive chemical in marijuana. He smokes pot in the morning to soothe nausea from the HIV drugs he has taken for 15 years. "I'm so happy the government is coming through with it," Dvorak said. "Are they going to carry on with it? We'll see." McLellan has called the initial program an interim measure to satisfy the court order while the government appeals the ruling. Canada unveiled plans for medical marijuana in 2000 and began growing a supply in the abandoned mine shaft in Flin Flon, Manitoba. New regulations took effect on July 30, 2001, expanding the number of Canadians allowed to use medical marijuana and allowing people to grow their own or designate someone to grow it for them. The regulations also cleared the way for distribution of the government-grown pot, but McLellan's department later announced it needed further tests on the effects of medicinal marijuana and the quality of its pot before making any available. That brought last year's court ruling ordering the government to offer a legal supply instead of making patients buy off the street. Medical marijuana users complain the Canadian system has been a bureaucratic maze intended to stifle the issue instead of providing pot to those who need it. While hundreds have received federal exemptions to grow and possess marijuana, others say it is hard to find doctors to sign off on their requests. Dvorak described himself as lucky because his "compassionate" doctor understands the need. He refused to give the doctor's name. Nine U.S. states allow limited use of marijuana for medical purposes under the direction of a doctor: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. The Bush administration has asked the Supreme Court to decide whether the government can strip a doctor's license to prescribe drugs if medical marijuana is prescribed. It also has appealed a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that blocked the federal government from punishing doctors who prescribe medical marijuana On the Net: Health Canada at: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca Canada Patients Get Government Marijuana Source: Associated Press Author: Tom Cohen, Associated Press Writer Published: August 26, 2003 Related Articles & Web Sites Canadians for Safe Access Cannabis News Canadian Links Toronto Man Expresses Relief as He Picks Up Pot Toronto Man Picks Up Medicinal Pot from Doctor Medical Marijuana To Sell for $5 Per Gram Picture from Above Article Patients Out of Time Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institute More Cannabis News August 26, 2003 Medical User Gets His Weed Are Kingstonians Ready For Home-Grown Pot Cafe? Emery Pushes Pot-Stirring Habit Just What The Doctor Ordered? Canada Patients Get Government Marijuana Toronto Man Picks Up Medicinal Pot from Doctor ER Mentions of Marijuana and Narcotic Painkillers Prince of Pot Plans Protest WAMM Plans Family Day Pot Smokers Get Off Scot-Free August 25, 2003 Ashcroft's Bizarre Promo Tour Weed Law Wiggle Room Prosecutors Putting Heat on Medipot Doctors Ashcroft on Tour, and Unplugged Pot Advocate To Light Up at Police Station Today Drug Breathalyser in The Works - Easter __________________ Al Capone and Watergate were red herrings to divert the countries attention from the Fascist acts of eliminating competition. Booze/Ethanol then Ganja//Hemp.

08-27-2003, 06:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
patriot Liar,Cheat,and Fraud Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: United States of Saudi Arabiaa Posts: 1,679 Thanks: 34 Thanked 154 Times in 103 Posts	But that dangerous marijuana has no medical purpose. Just ask the "experts" of the Amerikkan Government and the DEAth Squads. __________________ A true patriot is always ready to stand up against his own government. We can't be using plants that come from the Lord for beneficial purposes. Now hurry up, or we'll be late for church. The bigger the lie, the more people will believe it.-Adolf Hitler Legalizing marijuana won't grow our economy-Barack Hussein Obama 2009

08-27-2003, 07:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
jeepster1013 Old School Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: wv Posts: 1,278 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I was thinking patriot and you spelled amerikka wrong it should be ameriKKKa. __________________ DOING MY PART TO PISS PEOPLE OFF SINCE 1863. If women did not have pussy's the ditches would be full of them. I'll bet I can trip you and dick you, before you can throw me and blow me.

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