How to Access Medical Marijuana in BC, Canada

By Lou Catarino

Victoria, BC, Canada

December 29, 2012

Part 1

In this day and age, it is becoming incredibly difficult to deny the countless benefits of marijuana as medicine.  Big pharma and governments have been found guilty, repeatedly, of concealing the evidence that marijuana is not only harmless but has the potential to become the mother of all cures.  It’s called science. Regrettably, it looks like science has been prostituted by big business and made to say whatever those who hold the purse strings want it to say.

The emerging fact is that marijuana is not only a powerful medicine that will help alleviate suffering but also that marijuana might have a potentially beneficial effect on preventing and curing deadly diseases like cancer. So why do our political leaders refuse to see the scientific facts ?  Is it just ignorance or something else ?

Our elected leaders should be representing us. Our will should be their agenda.  The overwhelming majority of BC residents want marijuana decriminalized. Perhaps there are other forces at play here. It’s no big secret really. Big Pharma has been known to lobby politicians, especially in the US,  to keep marijuana illegal. They want to peddle their deadly and nasty man-made drugs to an exhausted population that is so stressed out by modern life that it cannot function without some form of medication. Pharmaceutical drugs and alcohol are acceptable remedies to the establishment. They kill but they make profits. Marijuana can grow on the side of the road. Anyone with a basic green thumb can crop a crop in their living room. No profits for corporations. No dividends.

My point is that medicine should be freely available to all humans. Medicine should never have let the profit motive to enter its realm. It’s too late now. Medicine is now overwhelmingly owned by the Big Pharma corporations. Follow the money. It’s that simple.

Big Pharma companies stand to lose billions of dollars in revenues if people suddenly realized the wickedness of their lies, and realized that the pharma drugs are poison for the most part.  People are finally realizing that marijuana, a plant, a weed really, could actually replace most pharma drugs more efficiently and without side effects. Don’t believe me ? Do your own search on how many deaths are attributed to pharma drugs annually. And then, do a similar search for marijuana.  We are talking about thousands of annual deaths in North America by the pharma drugs compared to zero deaths from marijuana. This reality is obscenely evil for lack of a better descriptor.

  I am not even talking about the other side benefits of growing marijuana: Hemp. It could replace all plastics and other chemically destructive man made products. Hemp has been known to have at least 5000 different uses. Textiles, papers, housing, automobiles. etc. It requires no pesticides. But that’s for another post. Let me just say one final thing about hemp. It has been replaced by plastics, pesticide-infused cotton,  and other destructive man- made stuff. Guess who created this situation ?  Yup, you guessed it: The oil and chemical companies.

Marijuana has been criminalized by the pill pushers of big pharma the same way hemp was dealt with by the oil and chemical companies. The unholy trio of  oil, chemical, and pharmaceutical companies are responsible for a significant amount of devastation on the planet. This unholy trio is also responsible for thousands and thousands of deaths. How do you measure this kind of evil ?

Anyway, I think you get the idea of where I am coming from on this issue.  And you have pondered in your mind the validity of laws that aim to curtail behavior just because it is not understood or accepted  by the indoctrinated masses fed on a daily dose of media lies and distortions, right ? If you curtail me then I should be able to curtail you. That’s only fair.

The other half of this post is more practical. I know someone that wants to try cannabis as medicine but she is a nurse. In Canada, nurses work mostly for the government. Some local governments might insist on drug tests. I am not aware of this happening in Canada but what do I know ? This is a big country.  Anyhow,  the general public is just beginning to question the lies that governments, the media, and the so-called experts have been saying thru the side of their mouths for way too long now.

So this is now a practical guide for obtaining “legal” marijuana in Canada. The legal aspect of marijuana in Canada is perhaps a bit complex for this post, so I will link some articles referring to the issue at the bottom.

Part 2

How to obtain medical marijuana in BC

This gets confusing immediately. Let’s keep it simple: There are two kinds of licenses for medical marijuana in Canada. One is issued by Health Canada in Ottawa. They have issued approximately 4000 licenses so far. That’s out of 34 million Canadians. Do the math. It’s just a shell game. No purpose whatsoever . Just another bureaucratic government agency bloated by tax dollars and pseudo-science.  The marijuana that this agency has been growing in the prairies has been universally despised and rejected by those who need it most. Let’s forget about these far-away ivory towers engorged bureaucrats.

The other kind of license is easier to obtain but that is the part that is in limbo legally. The law is changing rapidly.  Prosecutors and police are playing a waiting game. But it looks like the tide is changing finally. Just last week, crown counsel dropped the charges of trafficking  against Owen Smith.  Wait for this: He was baking cookies for a compassion club in his apartment. These charges were heavy on Owen’  shoulders since 2009.

The Facts

All you need is for your physician to sign a consent form. You can download it online from a compassion club.  Get your doctor to sign it and take the form to the club of your choice. There are three in this town of ~150,000 people.  That’s basically it. That was the hard part. By the way, if your doctor refuses to sign the forms, do yourself a favor and change doctors. We need educated avant-garde minds in this battle.

My particular club has a $15 annual membership fee which gives you the following options:

1) High grade marijuana at a very reasonable price. Better than the street dealers so-to-speak. Sold by the gram.

2) Cannabis cookies. 1/4 of a cookie is the equivalent of 2 joints. It’s relative.

3) Cannabis infused olive oil. Drink it or cook with it. Delightful on the digestive system.

4) Cannabis infused  aeromist. Spray it on your tongue.

5) Brownies

All the products above are of the highest quality.

By the way, most members find that they smoke far less marijuana once they have access to cannabis products. Harm reduction in reality.

There are a few more privileges that come with the membership but I’ll leave that for discovery.

Finally, click on this link to see how a compassion club operates:   http://www.thevics.com/

Hope this helps. Feel free to contact me for more info.

Lou

Click on link for video of Own Smith ‘s relief after hearing the charges against him were dropped by the Crown: http://bcove.me/xoy6tba1

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• Medicinal marijuana prices in Canada to rise (talesfromthelou.wordpress.com)
• 8 Visions for the Future of Legal Pot (talesfromthelou.wordpress.com)
• Marijuana Legalization “OK,” Says Jimmy Carter (talesfromthelou.wordpress.com)
• Health Canada plans to treat marijuana like other medicines (talesfromthelou.wordpress.com)
• Canada: Proposed medical marijuana changes have doctors on edge - (talesfromthelou.wordpress.com)
• Medical Marijuana Moving in Czech Republic (talesfromthelou.wordpress.com)
• British Columbia Public Supports Marijuana Legalization (talesfromthelou.wordpress.com)
• Medical marijuana not the real threat to kids (couriernews.suntimes.com)
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• BC medical marijuana activist starts pot bazaar for low-income users (sunnewsnetwork.ca)

Health Canada plans to treat marijuana like other medicines

Health Canada plans to treat marijuana like other medicines – Montreal – CBC News.

Individuals would no longer be permitted to grow their own

CBC News

Dec 16, 2012

Regulations proposed by Health Canada would essentially create licensed grow-ops that people could shop at, provided they have a prescription from their doctor. (Canadian Press)

A proposal released by Health Canada would treat medical marijuana more like medicine and effectively commercialize its production and distribution. Current medical marijuana regulations have left the system open to abuse,” Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq stated in a press release on Sunday.

She said the proposed Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) would help control illegal activity, while also allowing easier access for those patients who have genuine medical needs.

In order to be approved for a license, producers must:

Employ a quality assurance person with appropriate training, experience and knowledge.

• Have an indoor production site (not in a private residence).
• Have restricted access to their production site.
• Have a 24/7 camera security system and alarm system.
• Hold valid security clearance, authorized by the Minister of Health.
• Provide notification of their application and details about their site to local police, fire and government officials.

“These changes strike the right balance between patient access and public safety,” she said

Essentially, the new system will create licensed grow-ops that people could shop at, provided they have a prescription from their doctor. The regulations would allow for a regulated commercial market of licensed producers.

Currently, those who wish to use medical marijuana must apply for a permit from the government in order to either grow it themselves or buy it from a single government grower.

Adam Greenblatt, executive director of the Montreal-based Medical Cannabis Society (MCAS), said his organization advised Health Canada on the new regulations last summer.

“Unfortunately, they didn’t take all of our counsel, which would have resulted in a far more patient-friendly regime,” he stated.

‘For many patients who grow their own [marijuana], this is one step forward and two steps back’

—Adam Greenblatt, Medical Cannabis Society

Among its proposals, the MMPR suggests the price of medical marijuana should rise to $8.80 per gram. It currently it ranges from $1.80 to $5 per gram.

The regulation also says it would no longer permit individuals to grow their own marijuana, a move that Greenblatt says is unfair.

“For many patients who grow their own, this is one step forward and two steps back,” he said.

Despite some issues, Greenblatt remained optimistic. He said the merging of a social justice movement with the commercial sector will undoubtedly be a “bumpy ride.”

“Creating a commercial marketplace is ostensibly progressive,” he added.

Highlights from the proposed regulations:

• Elimination of production of marijuana by individuals in their homes.
• An end to Health Canada’s role in authorizing the production, possession, supplying and distributing of marijuana.
• Establishment of a regulated commercial market for licensed producers.
• Patients would no longer be required to apply to Health Canada and submit their personal medical information to the government.
• Patients would obtain a medical document (similar to a prescription) and purchase marijuana directly from the producer.
• Individuals would not be required to consult a specialist in addition to their normal health care practitioner.

The proposed regulations are expected to come into force in the spring.

Details of the new regulations will be available on Health Canada’s website and the public can weigh in during a 75-day comment period, which ends on Feb. 28, 2013.

With files from the Canadian Press

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• Medicinal marijuana prices in Canada to rise (talesfromthelou.wordpress.com)
• Canada: Proposed medical marijuana changes have doctors on edge - (talesfromthelou.wordpress.com)
• Medical Marijuana Moving in Czech Republic (talesfromthelou.wordpress.com)

Canada: City of Toronto Workers Destroy Free Community Food Garden Amid Growing Food Crisis

Activist Post: City of Toronto Workers Destroy Free Community Food Garden Amid Growing Food Crisis.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Occupy Gardens plants in Queens Park destroyed without harvesting food

Workers destroying Occupy Gardens at Queens Park

Activist Post

Amid a growing food crisis, this morning workers from the City of Toronto were ordered by City of Toronto Parks Director Richard Ubbens that all live plants and food be removed from the People’s Peas Garden in Queens Park. They were ordered to take the plants and food to the dump and lay sod overtop of this most beautiful free community food garden, without warning, without a chance to remove the rare heirloom plant species or harvest the food.

The garden was planted by Occupy Gardens and allies on May 1st, in defense of local and global food security. While the garden has been growing undisturbed for nearly 5 months, with the help of hundreds in the community, the city deliberately decided to have it removed upon the eve of the Autumn Jam: A Harvest Party and celebration of sharing, community and free local food, which is happening tomorrow from 12-6pm at the garden in Queens Park (northwest section).

The reason? The people did not have permission to grow free food on public land. I come from a city and country where one does not need permission to do the right thing. We are experiencing a “glocal” food crisis, where more and more people are lining up at food banks for kraft dinner and peanut butter, waiting lists for community gardens are growing, food prices rising, and our leaders are nowhere to be seen. Rather they are hiding behind their desk ordering the workers to destroy whatever hope we have left.

We need help sharing this story far and wide.

We will be having our Autumn Jam harvest party/vigil tomorrow as scheduled from 12noon-6pm in the northwest section of Queens Park.

As a side note – last Monday Sept 17th gardeners travelled to Ottawa on a Peas Keeping mission for national, global food security, where we planted a free heart-shaped food garden on Parliament Hill, at which point the RCMP stomped on the plants and threatened arresting people, we removed the plants and relayed the sod.

Thanks so much for your time and help,

In Peas, Lovage & SOILidarity!

Jacob Kearey-Moreland
Toronto Media Co-Op
647 379 2324

Related articles

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Philadelphia woman faces charges for feeding poor children

Philadelphia woman faces charges for feeding poor children — RT.

RT

Aug 17,2012

A woman may be fined $600 for each day she provided free food to children in a poor Philadelphia neighborhood for the past few months.

Angela Prattis, 41, of Chester Township has been distributing free healthy lunches in a neighborhood that has a per capita income of $19,000 a year.

Prattis made no money from the meal distribution, and gave out food provided by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The “lunch lady” ran the charity out of her garage, to which about 60 children came, five days a week.

After the city council was alerted of the free lunches, it ruled that she would have to acquire a variance to give away food next summer – or pay a fine of $600 a day. The council considers Prattis’ deed a zoning violation. Three months of distributing food would instigate a fine of more than $50,000.

“It’s not like I’m selling food,” she objected.

“These kids are hungry. I’m not tearing down the community. I’m keeping the children out of harm’s way,” she said in a Fox News interview.

But a variance to distribute food would also be costly. Administrative fees for a variance would cost up to $1,000.

“You have houses here. The roofs are falling in, and they could be focused on a lot more serious issues than me feeding children,” Prattis said in response to the city council’s ruling.

The woman has three children of her own, takes care of a foster child and runs a neighborhood basketball program .

The township intitally threatened Prattis with fines for this summer’s food distribution, but withdrew them after news organizations began asking questions. Now, the township is allowing the woman to keep distributing food cost-free until August 24 – but next summer will be a lot more costly. Prattis told local news crews that she will continue helping her community.

“Tell me this program isn’t needed,” she said.

Related articles

• Philadelphia Woman Faces $600-a-Day Fine for Feeding Needy Neighborhood Kids (sott.net)

Germany forcing women in labor force into prostitution (from 2005)

‘If you don’t take a job as a prostitute, we can stop your benefits’

Image via Wikipedia

By Clare Chapman

30 Jan 2005

A 25-year-old waitress who turned down a job providing “sexual services” at a brothel in Berlin faces possible cuts to her unemployment benefit under laws introduced this year.

Prostitution was legalised in Germany just over two years ago and brothel owners – who must pay tax and employee health insurance – were granted access to official databases of jobseekers.

The waitress, an unemployed information technology professional, had said that she was willing to work in a bar at night and had worked in a cafe.

She received a letter from the job centre telling her that an employer was interested in her “profile” and that she should ring them. Only on doing so did the woman, who has not been identified for legal reasons, realise that she was calling a brothel.

Under Germany’s welfare reforms, any woman under 55 who has been out of work for more than a year can be forced to take an available job – including in the sex industry – or lose her unemployment benefit. Last month German unemployment rose for the 11th consecutive month to 4.5 million, taking the number out of work to its highest since reunification in 1990.

The government had considered making brothels an exception on moral grounds, but decided that it would be too difficult to distinguish them from bars. As a result, job centres must treat employers looking for a prostitute in the same way as those looking for a dental nurse.

When the waitress looked into suing the job centre, she found out that it had not broken the law. Job centres that refuse to penalise people who turn down a job by cutting their benefits face legal action from the potential employer.

“There is now nothing in the law to stop women from being sent into the sex industry,” said Merchthild Garweg, a lawyer from Hamburg who specialises in such cases. “The new regulations say that working in the sex industry is not immoral any more, and so jobs cannot be turned down without a risk to benefits.”

Miss Garweg said that women who had worked in call centres had been offered jobs on telephone sex lines. At one job centre in the city of Gotha, a 23-year-old woman was told that she had to attend an interview as a “nude model”, and should report back on the meeting. Employers in the sex industry can also advertise in job centres, a move that came into force this month. A job centre that refuses to accept the advertisement can be sued.

Tatiana Ulyanova, who owns a brothel in central Berlin, has been searching the online database of her local job centre for recruits.

“Why shouldn’t I look for employees through the job centre when I pay my taxes just like anybody else?” said Miss Ulyanova.

Ulrich Kueperkoch wanted to open a brothel in Goerlitz, in former East Germany, but his local job centre withdrew his advertisement for 12 prostitutes, saying it would be impossible to find them.

Mr Kueperkoch said that he was confident of demand for a brothel in the area and planned to take a claim for compensation to the highest court. Prostitution was legalised in Germany in 2002 because the government believed that this would help to combat trafficking in women and cut links to organised crime.

Miss Garweg believes that pressure on job centres to meet employment targets will soon result in them using their powers to cut the benefits of women who refuse jobs providing sexual services.

“They are already prepared to push women into jobs related to sexual services, but which don’t count as prostitution,” she said.

“Now that prostitution is no longer considered by the law to be immoral, there is really nothing but the goodwill of the job centres to stop them from pushing women into jobs they don’t want to do.”

via ‘If you don’t take a job as a prostitute, we can stop your benefits’ – Telegraph.