Pubdate: Tue, 27 Jan 2015
Source: Parksville Qualicum Beach News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Black Press
Contact:  http://www.pqbnews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1361
Author: Cory Pahl

COMMUNITY SHOULD SUPPORT PHOENIX

I hope the community will support Phoenix Pain Management Society.

There are people in our community who are suffering and dying of
diseases that cannabis medicines are being shown to treat or cure in
the scientific literature (MS, Parkinson's, epilepsy, arthritis,
cancer, Alzheimer's, hypertension, IBS, Crohn's, anxiety,
depression...).

This medicine has been in use for millennia and it's impossible to
overdose on cannabis (the parts of your brain that control breathing
and heart rate are the only areas in the body that have no receptors
for cannabis compounds).

The federal MMPR program restricts access to concentrates and products
that people can use effectively for medicine, instead only allowing
people to buy the raw product to smoke (not nearly as effective for
most conditions). Most people don't have the means to turn this into
edible medicinal products.

Having access to affordable cannabis medicines is people's right and
has been recommended in Canada since the LeDain Commission. It's not
an exaggeration to say that for many it's a matter of life or death.

I hope people will contact the city and the RCMP and ask them to allow
this society to provide education and access to cannabis medicines for
people in need.

Our society in general is becoming much more aware of the usefulness
of cannabis as a medicine, and realizing that it is not something that
is harmful or easy to abuse, unlike alcohol, tobacco or prescription
meds. Colorado's success since increasing access to cannabis is a case
in point.

Bringing these medicines into the light of day is one way to reduce
the stigma and reduce the appeal to younger people who think it's a
recreational drug and not a medicine.

Cannabis isn't so cool when Grandpa is using it for his arthritis.

The bottom line is that people should have a safe place to discuss
whether cannabis is an option for their conditions, and the government
is not currently providing that for us.

Would the RCMP rather these activities continue in the black market
with absolutely no accountability, or will they allow a safe grey
market until government policy catches up with what a majority of
Canadians want?

Cory Pahl

Parksville
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MAP posted-by: Matt