[LumberJackJay]

Below Is an extract from the Cape Argus:

Cape Town - The legalisation of marijuana is one step closer to being realised, with the Department of Health forging ahead with plans to recognise it as a prescription drug rather than a banned substance.

The Medicines Control Council (MCC) told MPs it has made progress in its investigation into the medicinal use of cannabis.

Briefing the National Assembly committee on health, MCC registrar Dr Joey Gouws said by February the regulatory body could start the regulation process by issuing permits to allow the controlled cultivation and supply of standardised high quality medicinal cannabis products.

The council is expected to publish the regulations by February.

One of the proposals that the council has made as part of the amendment of the Medicines and Related Substances Act, which is awaiting promulgation by President Jacob Zuma, was the scheduling of cannabis be downgraded from Schedule 7, a banned substance, to Schedule 6, a prescription drug.

While the Act has always permitted the use of cannabis for research purposes, it remains illegal to use the plant for medicinal purposes.

The council briefed Parliament on Wednesday on its research in light of the proposed Medical Innovation Bill, which seeks to legalise the plant for medicinal use.

The Bill seeks to pave the way for research and approval of alternative medicines to treat cancer and other terminal illnesses. The party has argued cannabis is effective in relieving pain.

They also believe in its inexpensive healing properties and that it could be used to counter unaffordable healthcare.

On Wednesday, MPs commended the Department of Health on its “remarkable progress” in its research aimed at legalising cannabis, with IFP chief whip Narend Singh saying it would consider withdrawing its tabling of the Medical Innovation Bill if the new regulations met the objectives of the Bill.

“What I would like to see is that cannabis products should be made available to all, including the poor. At the moment, these drugs are available on the black market and they are very expensive. That means many poor South Africans don’t have access to these drugs despite their pain-relief benefits for chronic pain.”

On Wednesday, Gouws said as part of future legislation, patients that should be eligible for treatment include those who had severe chronic pain arising from diseases such as multiple sclerosis, HIV/Aids and cancer.

She said there was, however, the need for ongoing research and clinical trials that researched the long-term effects of using cannabis, including addiction potential and cognitive impairment on users.

MCC council member Professor Shabir Banoo said discussions with various stakeholders was already under way.

He described the Medicines and Related Substances Act as an enabling piece of legislation, saying the only aspect that was not yet available was the licensing of cultivation of quality-assured products.

sipokazi.fokazi@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

What this basically means for us is that certain privileged or well connected individuals will have access to permits pertaining to the cultivation of Medical Grade Cannabis.

We will have to wait until Feb 2017 to see what regulations will be stipulated but the majority of the community believes these will only be granted to a select few in SA.

I do however hope that regulation allows for small permits with the ability to prove you quality and genetics allowing for more access to better permits and so forth.

Let's see how the next few months pan out for us.

One Love

LJJ

[SmellyFlorist]

"What this basically means for us is that.... there will be a heap more moldy swaz about..??

[LumberJackJay]

Originally Posted by SmellyFlorist

"What this basically means for us is that.... there will be a heap more moldy swaz about..??

There will be quality on both ends of the scale like we have in the illegal market today, it's just that there is a slight possibility that you could grow your own as a patient, thus avoiding the dreaded Moldy Swaz

[SmellyFlorist]

"there is a slight possibility that you could grow your own..." wait, what, you mean... fuck, somebody jumped the gun then...

[MJPassion]

Sucks to be SA.

Now the ball is going to be held high by tall players so the little guys can't touch it.

[SmellyFlorist]

"Sucks to be SA"... yup, pretty much...

[LumberJackJay]

Originally Posted by MJPassion

Sucks to be SA.

Now the ball is going to be held high by tall players so the little guys can't touch it.

They won't stop use providing better medical product than they can. No matter who gets involved with them, Us smaller growers will always put in more effort, love and time than they will. The Law hasn't stopped us before, nothing is going to change if they don't give us licenses to do so legally. This country holds its constitution in high regard, we just have to use our rights to our advantage and they can't do jack.