Pubdate: Tue, 16 Dec 2014
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html
Website: http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: James Keller
Page: A7

MEDICAL POT PLAN SUFFERS GROWING PAINS

Shaun Simpson has had a migraine headache for the past seven years.

His medical problems started with surgery to remove a piece of his
skull that was pressing against his brain. The procedure left him with
a spinal-fluid leak which, in turn, fuels a near-constant headache.

For years, Simpson took a dozen or more Tylenol 3 pills a day, but
they caused unpleasant side-effects and weren't completely effective.

About 21/2 years ago, he received a prescription for medical
marijuana, which he ordered from Health Canada.

"I don't feel like I'm drugged out or stoned (like I did with) the
Tylenol 3; I'm actually more active and social," says Simpson, 34, who
works as a photographer in the Maritimes. "It's really changed my life
as far as day-to-day routine goes."

Simpson is among tens of thousands of Canadians who have used medical
marijuana legally since 2001 and, like many of those patients, he was
forced earlier this year to adjust to a massive overhaul of the
system. The federal government implemented new rules prohibiting
patients from growing their own pot. The new regulations limit
production and sale to a new collection of licensed commercial operations.

But the system has been beset by complaints of low supply and high
prices. Some commercial producers have long wait lists and are plagued
by frequent sellouts, and approvals for new operations to fill the gap
have been slow.

Simpson initially signed up for Toronto based Mettrum, but said the
company was often sold out of the strain he needed.

He now is on the wait list for OrganiGram, based in Moncton, N.B., and
in the meantime has been using grey-market marijuana
dispensaries.

There are currently 15 companies licensed to produce and sell medical
marijuana; eight others are licensed to produce the drug, but not to
sell it. Prospective suppliers must meet a list of strict conditions,
including rigorous security requirements and measures to control odours.

Denis Arsenault, CEO of OrganiGram, said the regulations have mostly
been working well. He said he understands the need for security and
inspections.

"It's been a very good experience; when they come in to do their
inspections, it's very clear they want us to succeed," Arsenault said.
"Everybody is better off if a patient has access to their medicine, if
there is a steady, regulated supply."

Only three new licences to sell marijuana have been issued since the
summer, the most recent being MariCann, in southern Ontario, which was
added in early December.

As of Nov. 24, there were 301 applications still being assessed by
Health Canada. Of those, 13 were awaiting a pre-licence inspection -
the final step before being approved.

In Nanaimo, Tilray said it's operating at 20 per cent capacity because
Health Canada hasn't approved it to use all of its available space. A
spokesman said the firm has repeatedly asked Health Canada to inspect
and approve the added production space, but there has been no response.

Health Canada said there is adequate supply across the entire system.
In October, for example, commercial growers produced 450 kilograms of
marijuana, while only 240 kg were sold, the department said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt