Canadian Government to Privatize Medical growing (news link)
- Thread starter RubeGoldberg
- Start date
The federal government is poised to tighten the rules on medical marijuana so that only licensed private operators are allowed to grow it, The Canadian Press has learned.
Sources say Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq wants to take individuals and Health Canada out of the business of growing pot.
Instead, she wants to tender licences to the private sector to produce marijuana in a way that is similar to how conventional drugs are produced — by companies, under tightly regulated conditions.
The move is a response to complaints from mayors, police and firefighters — mainly in British Columbia — who say sanctioned growers are abusing their permits and often growing far more than they need.
Just this month, for example, police in Maple Ridge, B.C., found more than 1,400 plants at a site that was permitted to grow just 220.
"There are significant issues with people cultivating above the limit," said Eric Nash, a legal cannabis expert on Vancouver Island.
Police have also complained that even growers who stick to their limit attract criminals to their sites, creating a neighbourhood safety risk.
And municipal officials are concerned about the fire hazard from chemicals and faulty wiring that may be used in growing the plants.
Indeed, B.C., mayors have been asking Health Canada to change the medical marijuana rules to require municipal permits.
They say licences to cultivate medical marijuana have been given out without informing local authorities or requiring proper building permits. Local emergency responders aren't able to tell the difference between legal and illegal grow-ops.
Legal ways to grow medical marijuana
The mayors took their campaign to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities earlier this month and won national support, with the organization formally asking Ottawa to clamp down.
Aglukkaq is expected to go further than requested by the mayors, but not right away. She intends to phase in the changes, but also to consult on the technicalities of how best to implement them.
"At this point in time, we will be looking to consult on changes that we hope will balance patient access with safety and security," said Aglukkaq's spokesman, Steve Outhouse.
For now, there are three legal ways to grow medical marijuana. A person who gets a doctor's prescription will then be allowed to grow a certain number of plants. Or, the patient can outsource the cultivation to a designated grower.
Health Canada also has a contract with a Saskatchewan company, Prairie Plant Systems Inc., to grow medical marijuana on a large scale. But patients complain that the company only produces one strain and they find it expensive.
Nash says patients have also long complained that many doctors refuse to give them permission to use medical marijuana.
"They don't want to fill out a 28-page form," Nash said.
Aglukkaq's changes are also expected to include better guidelines for doctors so that they know when to prescribe marijuana and in what quantities, sources said.
About 10,000 people have prescriptions for medical marijuana in Canada. And about 3,400 licences have been issued to grow the plants, two thirds of them in Ontario and British Columbia.
Sources say Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq wants to take individuals and Health Canada out of the business of growing pot.
Instead, she wants to tender licences to the private sector to produce marijuana in a way that is similar to how conventional drugs are produced — by companies, under tightly regulated conditions.
The move is a response to complaints from mayors, police and firefighters — mainly in British Columbia — who say sanctioned growers are abusing their permits and often growing far more than they need.
Just this month, for example, police in Maple Ridge, B.C., found more than 1,400 plants at a site that was permitted to grow just 220.
"There are significant issues with people cultivating above the limit," said Eric Nash, a legal cannabis expert on Vancouver Island.
Police have also complained that even growers who stick to their limit attract criminals to their sites, creating a neighbourhood safety risk.
And municipal officials are concerned about the fire hazard from chemicals and faulty wiring that may be used in growing the plants.
Indeed, B.C., mayors have been asking Health Canada to change the medical marijuana rules to require municipal permits.
They say licences to cultivate medical marijuana have been given out without informing local authorities or requiring proper building permits. Local emergency responders aren't able to tell the difference between legal and illegal grow-ops.
Legal ways to grow medical marijuana
The mayors took their campaign to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities earlier this month and won national support, with the organization formally asking Ottawa to clamp down.
Aglukkaq is expected to go further than requested by the mayors, but not right away. She intends to phase in the changes, but also to consult on the technicalities of how best to implement them.
"At this point in time, we will be looking to consult on changes that we hope will balance patient access with safety and security," said Aglukkaq's spokesman, Steve Outhouse.
For now, there are three legal ways to grow medical marijuana. A person who gets a doctor's prescription will then be allowed to grow a certain number of plants. Or, the patient can outsource the cultivation to a designated grower.
Health Canada also has a contract with a Saskatchewan company, Prairie Plant Systems Inc., to grow medical marijuana on a large scale. But patients complain that the company only produces one strain and they find it expensive.
Nash says patients have also long complained that many doctors refuse to give them permission to use medical marijuana.
"They don't want to fill out a 28-page form," Nash said.
Aglukkaq's changes are also expected to include better guidelines for doctors so that they know when to prescribe marijuana and in what quantities, sources said.
About 10,000 people have prescriptions for medical marijuana in Canada. And about 3,400 licences have been issued to grow the plants, two thirds of them in Ontario and British Columbia.
here comes a fight...
And if I wasn't clear enough above.
IT'S OVER!
MMAR participants will now get to buy their meds from a warm and fuzzy multinational pharma company who's only intention is to make you well.
MMAR participants should also expect to be inspected/investigated (like checking your power usage, etc.. if not an outright visit to ensure compliance after the changeover).
Anyone with a problem buying frankenpot from pfiezer or something will just get to shut the hell up or go to jail. Hooray for us all!
NDP!! NDP!! NDP!! NDP!! (yea, that's a little sarcastic. if you can't tell, i'm a tad pissed)
IT'S OVER!
MMAR participants will now get to buy their meds from a warm and fuzzy multinational pharma company who's only intention is to make you well.
MMAR participants should also expect to be inspected/investigated (like checking your power usage, etc.. if not an outright visit to ensure compliance after the changeover).
Anyone with a problem buying frankenpot from pfiezer or something will just get to shut the hell up or go to jail. Hooray for us all!
NDP!! NDP!! NDP!! NDP!! (yea, that's a little sarcastic. if you can't tell, i'm a tad pissed)
ManitobaMedical
Member
Love my Country , hate the Government!
MM
MM
stopped even before I got started...I knew it was too good to be true.
F**k I,ll grow my own and go to jail when I get busted...just like 30 yrs ago...
Harper got the country by the nuts....and is he ever lapping it up....\
Gonna be a lot of long faces around....the price of weed is about to rise in price....Great for the gangs.....
Shit,piss,fuck
jarff
F**k I,ll grow my own and go to jail when I get busted...just like 30 yrs ago...
Harper got the country by the nuts....and is he ever lapping it up....\
Gonna be a lot of long faces around....the price of weed is about to rise in price....Great for the gangs.....
Shit,piss,fuck
jarff
mango420
Member
heres some more info. changes are deff coming, just not sure how long. http://cannabisculture.com/v2/conte...Canada-Getting-Out-Medical-Marijuana-Business
P
PureLife
I'm not sure what everyone expected from Harper and his henchmen. During the campaign, my local Conservative candidate told me "they will get tougher on crime, and rid the streets of marijuana which is destroying our youth".
Someone from big pharma now has their hand in the cookie jar. If you don't think this is significant, just read about how Monsanto genetically modified soybeans, and then took farmers to court in the US and Europe for letting their plants go to seed, and then replanting Monsanto GMO soybeans without paying royalties.
It's a fucked up world we live in.
Someone from big pharma now has their hand in the cookie jar. If you don't think this is significant, just read about how Monsanto genetically modified soybeans, and then took farmers to court in the US and Europe for letting their plants go to seed, and then replanting Monsanto GMO soybeans without paying royalties.
It's a fucked up world we live in.
Sure hope it isn't true.
Because I will fight - to the end, if necessary. Will not lay down to oppressors, and in the face of something like this...
I promise to take as many enemy with me as possible if/when the time comes. that is what war is about. I will grow my own no matter what they say/do. If it means back to the "old fashioned way", then so be it!!!
Any good warrior would fight/die for a cause, especially if said cause is just.
Especially me.
Peace
Because I will fight - to the end, if necessary. Will not lay down to oppressors, and in the face of something like this...
I promise to take as many enemy with me as possible if/when the time comes. that is what war is about. I will grow my own no matter what they say/do. If it means back to the "old fashioned way", then so be it!!!
Any good warrior would fight/die for a cause, especially if said cause is just.
Especially me.
Peace
O
OneTokeOver
Fuck the government!
No way in hell am I going to be forced to buy something I can grow in my back yard.
I will fight this. If necessary, I am prepared to go the freeman route. I am already making arrangements to protect my personal property should I do so.
This is about big business money. Privatize the supply and institute mandatory sentencing to fill the new privatized super prisons.
Again, fuck the government!
No way in hell am I going to be forced to buy something I can grow in my back yard.
I will fight this. If necessary, I am prepared to go the freeman route. I am already making arrangements to protect my personal property should I do so.
This is about big business money. Privatize the supply and institute mandatory sentencing to fill the new privatized super prisons.
Again, fuck the government!
Exactly. Despite my utter disgust at the situation, I am rather amused by how many people are surprised by this. Seriously, wtf were you expecting? Him to actually give a shit?
There are no solutions. That's how bad a fucking we're about to get if one can manage to open their eyes to see what's coming.
I'm fine with my plan. You go ahead and enjoy your's.
I have a feeling it involves a charming bit of assrape.
Maybe you want to keep thinking good thoughts since you seem to be connected to a growshop and can't handle the thought of your clients vanishing overnight. Good luck to you, sir. Honestly.
SirTOKESalot
Member
Seed bomb Canada!!!!!!
gRow the Fucker out....
gRow the Fucker out....
SirTOKESalot
Member
I am glad i never applied for medicinal. Sucks they have all of your names in the system as growing and smoking grass....
All this means for us illegal growers is maybe a less online action and watching where you spend your cash online. For me a few small adjustments.
He will fuck everything up in Canada before he is out But in 4 years when NDP or lib in house and half of this will change. Sorry to hear about this everyone that needs meds.
All this means for us illegal growers is maybe a less online action and watching where you spend your cash online. For me a few small adjustments.
He will fuck everything up in Canada before he is out But in 4 years when NDP or lib in house and half of this will change. Sorry to hear about this everyone that needs meds.
I plan to adapt no matter what the "rules", if they lock me down, I will teach everyone inside how to rock a grow, also......this aint stopping shit - grows were off the hook in bc long before mmar ,and they will continue long after its gone........
overgrow/overthrow
TS
overgrow/overthrow
TS
