Pubdate: Sun, 04 Jan 2015
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: James Keller
Page: A4

MEDICAL POT USERS WAIT AFTER SELLERS WEEDED OUT

More patients registering, but complaints mounting over low supply and
high prices

VANCOUVER- 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 two and a half 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 and instead restricting 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 producers have long waiting lists and are plagued by
frequent sellouts, and approvals for new operations have been slow.

Simpson initially signed up for Toronto-based Mettrum, but he said the
company was often sold out of the strain he needed. He is now on the
waiting list for OrganiGram, based in Moncton, N.B., and in the
meantime he's been using grey market marijuana dispensaries.

Ottawa introduced the previous medical marijuana regime following a
court decision in 2000 that ordered it to provide access to the drug.
About 38,000 patients received authorizations under that system, most
of whom either chose to grow at home or asked someone else to grow it
for them. Several thousand bought directly from Health Canada, which
sold a single strain for $5 a gram.

The previous regime was repealed on March 31, 2014, leaving fledging
commercial producers the only official option. However, a Federal
Court judge issued an injunction that has allowed many patients to
continue growing their own until a trial examining the updated rules.

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, says 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," says Arsenault.

Health Canada says about 13,700 patients were registered under the new
system as of Oct. 31. That's an increase from about 5,100 in April and
almost 8,000 in June.

Patients with a doctor's prescription place their orders directly with
the licensed producer of their choice. Costs range from as low as
$2.50 per gram to as high as $15, depending on the producer and the
strain, but most are between $8 and $10.

There have been only three new licences to sell marijuana issued since
the summer. 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.
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MAP posted-by: Matt