The Padre
Posts: 4,558 
Location: Ontario
Location: Ontario
April 17th, 2007, 05:00 AM
Canadian Press: DEAN BEEBY
OTTAWA (CP) - The federal government charges patients 15 times more for certified medical marijuana than it pays to buy the weed in bulk from its official supplier, newly released documents show.
Critics say it's unconscionable to charge that high a markup to some of the country's sickest citizens, who have little income and are often cut off from their medical marijuana supply when they can't pay their government dope bills.
Records obtained under the Access to Information Act show that Health Canada pays $328.75 for each kilogram of bulk medical marijuana produced by Prairie Plant Systems Inc.
The company currently has a $10.3-million contract with Health Canada, which expires at the end of September, to grow standardized medical marijuana in an abandoned mine shaft in Flin Flon, Man.
Health Canada, in turn, sells the marijuana to a small group of authorized users for $150 - plus GST - for each 30-gram bag of ground-up flowering tops, with a strength of up to 14 per cent THC, the main active ingredient. That works out to $5,000 for each kilogram, or a markup of more than 1,500 per cent.
"It's impossible for a person on disability," said Ron Lawrence, 38, a burn victim in Windsor, Ont., who needs medical marijuana to control severe pain. "The sickest people are the ones that need it the most . . . they're the ones who don't work."
Adds Scott McCluskey, 48, in Westbank, B.C., who suffers spinal-cord pain that is eased by marijuana: "They're selling it for criminal street prices. . . . I don't think anybody, especially seriously ill people . . . should have to pay this type of money for medicine."
Health Canada has become a reluctant marijuana supplier, forced into the role by a series of court decisions that have accepted scientific research indicating cannabis can relieve pain when other medications fail. The courts have also said patients should not be forced into the black market to purchase their medicine.
Currently, 1,742 patients are authorized by Health Canada to possess dried marijuana as a medication. Of these, 1,040 are licensed to grow their own, and another 167 people are licensed to grow marijuana for the exclusive use of licensed patients.
But patients can also order marijuana through Health Canada's official supplier, Prairie Plant Systems, which typically delivers the product by Purolater courier.
Currently, 149 patients are officially in arrears - almost a third of the 514 patients who order government-certified dope - collectively owing Health Canada $143,611 in outstanding payments. Many have been cut off from their supplies, though Health Canada was not able to indicate the number.
"At a time when medical cannabis users all too often have to choose between buying groceries and their medicine, it is unconscionable that Health Canada . . . should be marking up this product 1,500 per cent," said Philippe Lucas of Victoria-based Canadians for Safe Access, which promotes ready access to medical marijuana.
A spokesman for the department, Jason Bouzanis, said the quoted price of $328.75 a kilogram for bulk marijuana does not include other Health Canada costs.
"The price for individuals authorized to possess marijuana for medical purposes is based on the actual cost of production and an estimate of costs associated with the distribution of the product," he said, "These costs are subject to change."
Contract records show Health Canada also pays the supplier a packaging fee of $9.06 for each 30-gram package, to cover labour and materials, as well as courier fees that are dependent on shipping volumes.
Although patients currently can grow it themselves or have someone else grow it for them, Health Canada plans to phase out these production licences sometime after 2007. That would force patients to order from Prairie Plant Systems, or take their chances with street dealers or so-called compassion clubs, which are technically illegal.
Street prices for marijuana are about $10 a gram for small quantities, or about twice Health Canada's price, though bulk street purchases with few middlemen can match or better the government price. Compassion clubs charge as low as $5 a gram, the same price as government dope.
Because medical marijuana is not a recognized drug, with its own drug identification number, insurance companies and government drug programs do not reimburse patients for costs, as they do for other pain medication.
Many patients say they are unhappy with the quality of the Prairie Plant System product.
"It's garbage," said Tom MacMullen, 43, of Prospect Bay, N.S., who uses marijuana for leg and back pain. "It's just so awful-tasting."
MacMullen has twice been cut off from his government supply, and currently owes $517 in arrears. With a disability pension of $653 a month and two children, he has few resources to buy dope and now relies on the charity of friends.
Bouzanis said Health Canada is tightening its rules beginning May 1, so that those who are 30 days or more in arrears can receive one more shipment before they are cut off. Previously, patients were given a 180-day grace period.
Meanwhile, the Victoria-based Vancouver Island Compassion Society is planning a constitutional challenge to the federal medical cannabis program, set to be heard in the British Columbia Supreme Court May 9-18.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
Canadian Press: DEAN BEEBY
OTTAWA (CP) - The federal government charges patients 15 times more for certified medical marijuana than it pays to buy the weed in bulk from its official supplier, newly released documents show.
Critics say it's unconscionable to charge that high a markup to some of the country's sickest citizens, who have little income and are often cut off from their medical marijuana supply when they can't pay their government dope bills.
Records obtained under the Access to Information Act show that Health Canada pays $328.75 for each kilogram of bulk medical marijuana produced by Prairie Plant Systems Inc.
The company currently has a $10.3-million contract with Health Canada, which expires at the end of September, to grow standardized medical marijuana in an abandoned mine shaft in Flin Flon, Man.
Health Canada, in turn, sells the marijuana to a small group of authorized users for $150 - plus GST - for each 30-gram bag of ground-up flowering tops, with a strength of up to 14 per cent THC, the main active ingredient. That works out to $5,000 for each kilogram, or a markup of more than 1,500 per cent.
"It's impossible for a person on disability," said Ron Lawrence, 38, a burn victim in Windsor, Ont., who needs medical marijuana to control severe pain. "The sickest people are the ones that need it the most . . . they're the ones who don't work."
Adds Scott McCluskey, 48, in Westbank, B.C., who suffers spinal-cord pain that is eased by marijuana: "They're selling it for criminal street prices. . . . I don't think anybody, especially seriously ill people . . . should have to pay this type of money for medicine."
Health Canada has become a reluctant marijuana supplier, forced into the role by a series of court decisions that have accepted scientific research indicating cannabis can relieve pain when other medications fail. The courts have also said patients should not be forced into the black market to purchase their medicine.
Currently, 1,742 patients are authorized by Health Canada to possess dried marijuana as a medication. Of these, 1,040 are licensed to grow their own, and another 167 people are licensed to grow marijuana for the exclusive use of licensed patients.
But patients can also order marijuana through Health Canada's official supplier, Prairie Plant Systems, which typically delivers the product by Purolater courier.
Currently, 149 patients are officially in arrears - almost a third of the 514 patients who order government-certified dope - collectively owing Health Canada $143,611 in outstanding payments. Many have been cut off from their supplies, though Health Canada was not able to indicate the number.
"At a time when medical cannabis users all too often have to choose between buying groceries and their medicine, it is unconscionable that Health Canada . . . should be marking up this product 1,500 per cent," said Philippe Lucas of Victoria-based Canadians for Safe Access, which promotes ready access to medical marijuana.
A spokesman for the department, Jason Bouzanis, said the quoted price of $328.75 a kilogram for bulk marijuana does not include other Health Canada costs.
"The price for individuals authorized to possess marijuana for medical purposes is based on the actual cost of production and an estimate of costs associated with the distribution of the product," he said, "These costs are subject to change."
Contract records show Health Canada also pays the supplier a packaging fee of $9.06 for each 30-gram package, to cover labour and materials, as well as courier fees that are dependent on shipping volumes.
Although patients currently can grow it themselves or have someone else grow it for them, Health Canada plans to phase out these production licences sometime after 2007. That would force patients to order from Prairie Plant Systems, or take their chances with street dealers or so-called compassion clubs, which are technically illegal.
Street prices for marijuana are about $10 a gram for small quantities, or about twice Health Canada's price, though bulk street purchases with few middlemen can match or better the government price. Compassion clubs charge as low as $5 a gram, the same price as government dope.
Because medical marijuana is not a recognized drug, with its own drug identification number, insurance companies and government drug programs do not reimburse patients for costs, as they do for other pain medication.
Many patients say they are unhappy with the quality of the Prairie Plant System product.
"It's garbage," said Tom MacMullen, 43, of Prospect Bay, N.S., who uses marijuana for leg and back pain. "It's just so awful-tasting."
MacMullen has twice been cut off from his government supply, and currently owes $517 in arrears. With a disability pension of $653 a month and two children, he has few resources to buy dope and now relies on the charity of friends.
Bouzanis said Health Canada is tightening its rules beginning May 1, so that those who are 30 days or more in arrears can receive one more shipment before they are cut off. Previously, patients were given a 180-day grace period.
Meanwhile, the Victoria-based Vancouver Island Compassion Society is planning a constitutional challenge to the federal medical cannabis program, set to be heard in the British Columbia Supreme Court May 9-18.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
Hawkings former plumber
Posts: 8,442
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Location: RR1 Distopia 666 Discordia Drive Apt 911
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Location: RR1 Distopia 666 Discordia Drive Apt 911
April 17th, 2007, 08:41 AM
Another crime against the weak and the disabled, of course I blame it on American millionaires and thier Gestapo morons.
Another crime against the weak and the disabled, of course I blame it on American millionaires and thier Gestapo morons.
The Padre
Posts: 4,558
Location: Ontario
Location: Ontario
April 17th, 2007, 08:48 AM
Quoting darkbeaver
Why them?
Another crime against the weak and the disabled, of course I blame it on American millionaires and thier Gestapo morons.
The Padre
Posts: 4,558
Location: Ontario
Location: Ontario
April 17th, 2007, 09:06 AM
Quoting Tonington
Does it not do that already? I thought it allowed people to grow their own. I'm not sure, and obviously am probably wrong.
Pffft, a prescription should enable the patient to grow their own. It's not like they're fine-tuning some chemical formula and encapsulating the stuff. It's a freakin plant, maybe they could buy the seeds or something from the drugstore...
Steven Hawking's Tutor
Posts: 4,604
April 17th, 2007, 09:24 AM
Why would it suprise anyone that the government would abuse the people? Government and religions have abused the people of this planet for hundreds of generations over thousands of years. Any time you have an entrenched interest in controlling humanity...you will be required to harm those whom you claim to be helping...
Why would it suprise anyone that the government would abuse the people? Government and religions have abused the people of this planet for hundreds of generations over thousands of years. Any time you have an entrenched interest in controlling humanity...you will be required to harm those whom you claim to be helping...
April 17th, 2007, 09:47 AM
Quoting DurkaDurka
Oh man, I would love to smoke a bowl with him. Bong hits for all cabinet ministers!
You have to get stephen harper to smoke a bowl with you first.
Chief Mogrifier
Posts: 8,795
April 17th, 2007, 10:08 AM
Quote:
I would be very interested to learn how they got from $328.75 per kilogram to a $150.00 for one gram. The $9.06 packaging fee for each gram is pure usury, and ridiculous usary at that. Now they want to get rid of any competition. Who's running this program? The Mafia?
A spokesman for the department, Jason Bouzanis, said the quoted price of $328.75 a kilogram for bulk marijuana does not include other Health Canada costs.
"The price for individuals authorized to possess marijuana for medical purposes is based on the actual cost of production and an estimate of costs associated with the distribution of the product," he said, "These costs are subject to change."
Contract records show Health Canada also pays the supplier a packaging fee of $9.06 for each 30-gram package, to cover labour and materials, as well as courier fees that are dependent on shipping volumes.
Although patients currently can grow it themselves or have someone else grow it for them, Health
"The price for individuals authorized to possess marijuana for medical purposes is based on the actual cost of production and an estimate of costs associated with the distribution of the product," he said, "These costs are subject to change."
Contract records show Health Canada also pays the supplier a packaging fee of $9.06 for each 30-gram package, to cover labour and materials, as well as courier fees that are dependent on shipping volumes.
Although patients currently can grow it themselves or have someone else grow it for them, Health
World Police
Posts: 4,440
Videos: 1
Location: toranna
Videos: 1
Location: toranna
April 17th, 2007, 10:13 AM
I think $100.00/Ounce would be a more just price for it. At the price you would be saving 50% compared to buying it from their friendly dealer.
I think $100.00/Ounce would be a more just price for it. At the price you would be saving 50% compared to buying it from their friendly dealer.
A modern nomad
Posts: 1,118
Location: Berlin, Germany
Location: Berlin, Germany
April 17th, 2007, 10:35 AM
That report raises other interesting questions, like why is there no drug identification number for marijuana yet? It sounds like they are stalling because they don't want to elevate marijuana to the status of alcohol yet.
That report raises other interesting questions, like why is there no drug identification number for marijuana yet? It sounds like they are stalling because they don't want to elevate marijuana to the status of alcohol yet.
Hawkings former plumber
Posts: 8,442
Videos: 1
Location: RR1 Distopia 666 Discordia Drive Apt 911
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Location: RR1 Distopia 666 Discordia Drive Apt 911
April 17th, 2007, 10:55 AM
Quoting sanctus
The American lobbys for the big drug companys anually spend millions to make sure that cannibis never becomes legal, in fact way back in the seventys they even bought legislation to make sure that any reserch done on pot was conducted on garbage that tested out at three % THC. Having cannibis become part of the pharmacalogical system would cost the drug companys billions in lost sales of the toxic crap they have addicted us to.
Why them?
Hawkings former plumber
Posts: 8,442
Videos: 1
Location: RR1 Distopia 666 Discordia Drive Apt 911
Videos: 1
Location: RR1 Distopia 666 Discordia Drive Apt 911
April 17th, 2007, 10:56 AM
Quoting sanctus
The American lobbys for the big drug companys anually spend millions to make sure that cannibis never becomes legal, in fact way back in the seventys they even bought legislation to make sure that any reserch done on pot was conducted on garbage that tested out at three 3 % THC or less. Having cannibis become part of the pharmacalogical system would cost the drug companys billions in lost sales of the toxic crap they have addicted us to.
Why them?
Newbie
Posts: 31
April 17th, 2007, 11:07 AM
The US War on Drugs is what has screwed this up because it directly influences Canadian policy. Our mis-leaders are too chicken sh*t to do whats right, evening knowing the facts they will maintain their bald-faced lies. To hell with sick people as long as we get the business deals, that's their attitude.
Not to mention the thousands who languish in jails for marijuana offences, or carry a harsh criminal record for possession that stops them from getting a better job or travelling. In the United States there are people doing 10 years, even 20 years for growing their own cannabis.
But then we have people like Mayor Mel famous for shaking hands with the Hells Angels leaders when they come rolling into town. Welcome, pleasure to do business.
Someone asked why can't they grow it themselves with a license, many are too sick to grow it anyway. Apparently they will get some shwag grown in a deep mine (for public safety from the dangerous weeds!) that's only fit for making a rope.
The US War on Drugs is what has screwed this up because it directly influences Canadian policy. Our mis-leaders are too chicken sh*t to do whats right, evening knowing the facts they will maintain their bald-faced lies. To hell with sick people as long as we get the business deals, that's their attitude.
Not to mention the thousands who languish in jails for marijuana offences, or carry a harsh criminal record for possession that stops them from getting a better job or travelling. In the United States there are people doing 10 years, even 20 years for growing their own cannabis.
But then we have people like Mayor Mel famous for shaking hands with the Hells Angels leaders when they come rolling into town. Welcome, pleasure to do business.
Someone asked why can't they grow it themselves with a license, many are too sick to grow it anyway. Apparently they will get some shwag grown in a deep mine (for public safety from the dangerous weeds!) that's only fit for making a rope.
