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Health Canada
News Release -
July 4, 2001
OTTAWA - Health Minister Allan Rock today announced that the Government
of Canada's regulations governing possession and production of marijuana
for medical purposes have been approved and will come into effect on July
30, 2001. Minister Rock also announced research funding and provided a
progress report on efforts to establish a domestic supply of marijuana
for medical purposes.
"Today's announcement is a landmark in our ongoing effort to give
Canadians suffering from grave and debilitating illnesses access to marijuana
for medical purposes," said Minister Rock. "This compassionate
measure will improve the quality of life of sick Canadians, particularly
those who are terminally ill."
The approved regulations, which reflect extensive consultation with stakeholders,
contain two main components authorizations to possess marijuana and licences
to produce marijuana. They are designed to address issues relating to
transparency of the approved process and the need for a clearer definition
of medical necessity. These issues stemmed from the decision of the Court
of Appeal for Ontario in the case of Regina v. Parker, rendered on July
31, 2000.
Draft regulations
were pre-published April 7, 2001 for stakeholder consultation. Stakeholder
concerns addressed in the regulations announced today include:
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The application process will be managed by the individual applicant
instead of a medical practitioner - reducing the burden on physicians
and empowering the patient;
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Applicants for a designated person production licence will not be
required to submit a document proving that no foreign drug conviction
exists;
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The formula to calculate the number of plants permitted under a
licence to produce will be adjusted to reflect estimated indoor and
outdoor growing yields and margins of error; and
- Transitional provisions will be included that extend all current
exemptions by six months - ensuring patients are afforded an ample opportunity
to comply with the new regulations.
The criteria for application and authorization to possess marijuana are
clear: symptoms associated with terminal illnesses with a prognosis of
death within 12 months; symptoms associated with medical conditions listed
in a schedule to the regulations; and symptoms associated with other medical
conditions.
The regulations were published in Canada
Gazette Part II today. They come into force July 30, 2001.
Minister Rock announced other measures related to the Government of Canada's
marijuana for medical purposes initiative. They include:
Outreach initiative to physicians to share information and seek input
on streamlining application forms and process;
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Ongoing review process involving physicians, patients, law enforcement
officers and other stakeholders to monitor the effectiveness and application
of new regulations and provide advice on future measures related to
the manufacture, distribution and sale of marijuana for medical purposes,
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Funding of $840,000 to conduct research on the efficacy of smoked
marijuana in the treatment of wasting syndrome in those living with
HIV/AIDS by the Community Research Initiative of Toronto; and
- Final licencing approval of Prairie Plant Systems Inc. (PPS) of Saskatoon
and provision of seeds which allows them to begin growing a legal supply
and a wide variety of marijuana to supply the Government of Canada's
medical marijuana initiative.
"The measures announced today are a result of an extensive consultative
process and a commitment to be flexible," concluded Minister Rock.
"This approach will continue to guide our efforts as we monitor the
implementation of these regulations and futher develop the supply and
distribution process this Fall."
See also:
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