CALGARY- The government is getting out of the pot business. On Monday, the federal government announced changes that means they will no longer produce or distribute medical marijuana, and medical users will no longer be allowed to grow the product at home.
“While the courts have said that there must be reasonable access to a legal source of marijuana for medical purposes, we believe that this must be done in a controlled fashion in order to protect public safety,” Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said in a statement.
Canadian Fire Chiefs agree that grow-ops are a danger.
“An average of one in 22 grow operations catch fire, an incident rate that is 24 times higher than the average home,” says John de Hooge, from the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs.
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Aglukkaq adds that the changes will save taxpayers $15 million per year, but marijuana users say the changes will force low-income Canadians to head to the street.
“With Health Canada’s proposed changes, I would not be able to afford very little of my own medicine,” says Marshall Smith, who smokes marijuana to cope with arthritis pain. “I would have to change to an illegal source, or try growing my own.”
Marijuana advocates predict the price will more than double, once licensed, private growers take over.
“I pay $5 a gram, Health Canada says $8 a gram,” complains Keith Fagin. “I think it’s going to be more than 10,12 [dollars] and higher.
“It’s going to make many of us criminals.”
Health Canada said since the medical marijuana program was introduced in 2001, it has expanded to 30,000 people from the original 500 authorized to use the product. The new rules go into effect on April 1, 2014.
Marijuana advocates upset over new rules banning grow-ops | Globalnews.ca
“While the courts have said that there must be reasonable access to a legal source of marijuana for medical purposes, we believe that this must be done in a controlled fashion in order to protect public safety,” Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said in a statement.
Canadian Fire Chiefs agree that grow-ops are a danger.
“An average of one in 22 grow operations catch fire, an incident rate that is 24 times higher than the average home,” says John de Hooge, from the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs.
Related Stories
Aglukkaq adds that the changes will save taxpayers $15 million per year, but marijuana users say the changes will force low-income Canadians to head to the street.
“With Health Canada’s proposed changes, I would not be able to afford very little of my own medicine,” says Marshall Smith, who smokes marijuana to cope with arthritis pain. “I would have to change to an illegal source, or try growing my own.”
Marijuana advocates predict the price will more than double, once licensed, private growers take over.
“I pay $5 a gram, Health Canada says $8 a gram,” complains Keith Fagin. “I think it’s going to be more than 10,12 [dollars] and higher.
“It’s going to make many of us criminals.”
Health Canada said since the medical marijuana program was introduced in 2001, it has expanded to 30,000 people from the original 500 authorized to use the product. The new rules go into effect on April 1, 2014.
Marijuana advocates upset over new rules banning grow-ops | Globalnews.ca