Pubdate: Thu, 15 Aug 2013
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2013 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wEtbT4yU
Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: David Saul
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n406/a01.html

OUR MEDICAL POT RULES: 'A SHAM AND A SHAME'

Re: A Doctor's Duty With Medical Pot, letter to the editor, Aug. 14.

The comments about medical marijuana made by Robert Ianiro, the 
non-MD director general, Controlled Substances and Tobacco 
directorate at health Canada, perhaps require some clarification.

1) The issue of home-growing will soon be over for good and all 
related crimes, dangers, fears will disappear. 2) Patients have 
always used med pot for medical purposes and will continue to do so, 
with or without the MD's blessing, or even knowledge. 3) The cost of 
the product (via licenced "dealers") will be high, likely too high 
for the system to ever become workable. The cost will continue to be 
on a cash-paying basis, with 75% of patients being poor, without 
financial access. 4) The Canadian Medical Association was never and 
is still not supportive of Marijuana Medical Access regulations 
(MMAR) or the new Marijuana for Medical Purposes regulations. 5) 
After almost 12 years of MMAR, all we have to show for a 
made-in-Canada med pot program is: a sham and a shame.

Dr. David Saul (med pot authorizer 2009-2012), Toronto.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom