Robert Celt
New Member
The province should cover the cost of medicinal marijuana, says a terminally ill Calgary nurse who credits the drug with making her life tolerable.
Judit Saunders, whose breast cancer has spread to her brain and bones, said misguided attitudes inhibiting medical cannabis is harming patients like her, adding the treatment should fall under universal health insurance.
"Someone who's sick, maybe on disability with a limited income – who can afford it?" said Saunders, 30.
"To me, it's very discriminatory . . . cost is a huge, huge barrier."
Saunders, who took part in a Toronto forum Tuesday with non-profit group Rethink Breast Cancer, which is raising awareness of medical marijuana's merits, said she spends about $400 a month on cannabis oil to relieve her cancer and chemotherapy symptoms.
She said the orally-consumed medicine, dubbed honey oil, has worked wonders in controlling pain, nausea, appetite suppression and sleep deprivation.
By comparison, opioids and other dangerous pharmaceuticals weren't as effective and guaranteed harsh side-effects, said Saunders.
"I almost consider it my umbrella medication – it has totally given me a quality of life," she said.
During a trip to California, in which she was forced by law to leave her medication at home, her health deteriorated sharply, with an inability to sleep a prime problem, she said.
"I came back home, got back on the oil and slept perfectly," she said, adding she's also consuming the oil in hopes it will slow or reduce her cancer.
Antiquated attitudes toward cannabis in Alberta and Calgary has city council considering keeping medical marijuana patients away from schools, and forcing her to rely on a Vancouver dispensary to supply her cannabis oil through the mail, said Saunders.
She's not even certain of the legality of receiving her medicine by post, she added.
"If authorities open it, they could confiscate it. It's a grey zone," said Saunders.
Barriers to accessing medical cannabis in specialized, potent forms like oil, she said, are forcing patients back to conventional medications rife with side-effects, she said.
"They give up . . . we have terminal diseases and don't have the luxury of time," said the Calgarian.
Provincial coverage for marijuana remains a premature scenario, said Carolyn Ziegler, spokeswoman for Alberta Health.
"Alberta Health neither endorses nor discourages the use of medical marijuana," she said in a statement.
"As marijuana is technically still illegal, it is not covered by Alberta Health Insurance."
Changes to federal legislation and regulations could alter that stance, she said.
Canadians with a permit can legally consume medicinal marijuana grown under licence, and the federal Liberal government has vowed to legalize the drug for recreational use.
Rethink Breast Cancer's campaign is being funded by licensed medical marijuana producers Medreleaf and Aphria Inc.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Canadian Breast Cancer Patient Calls For Province To Cover Medical Marijuana
Author: Bill Kaufmann
Contact: Calgary Herald
Photo Credit: Postmedia
Website: Calgary Herald
Judit Saunders, whose breast cancer has spread to her brain and bones, said misguided attitudes inhibiting medical cannabis is harming patients like her, adding the treatment should fall under universal health insurance.
"Someone who's sick, maybe on disability with a limited income – who can afford it?" said Saunders, 30.
"To me, it's very discriminatory . . . cost is a huge, huge barrier."
Saunders, who took part in a Toronto forum Tuesday with non-profit group Rethink Breast Cancer, which is raising awareness of medical marijuana's merits, said she spends about $400 a month on cannabis oil to relieve her cancer and chemotherapy symptoms.
She said the orally-consumed medicine, dubbed honey oil, has worked wonders in controlling pain, nausea, appetite suppression and sleep deprivation.
By comparison, opioids and other dangerous pharmaceuticals weren't as effective and guaranteed harsh side-effects, said Saunders.
"I almost consider it my umbrella medication – it has totally given me a quality of life," she said.
During a trip to California, in which she was forced by law to leave her medication at home, her health deteriorated sharply, with an inability to sleep a prime problem, she said.
"I came back home, got back on the oil and slept perfectly," she said, adding she's also consuming the oil in hopes it will slow or reduce her cancer.
Antiquated attitudes toward cannabis in Alberta and Calgary has city council considering keeping medical marijuana patients away from schools, and forcing her to rely on a Vancouver dispensary to supply her cannabis oil through the mail, said Saunders.
She's not even certain of the legality of receiving her medicine by post, she added.
"If authorities open it, they could confiscate it. It's a grey zone," said Saunders.
Barriers to accessing medical cannabis in specialized, potent forms like oil, she said, are forcing patients back to conventional medications rife with side-effects, she said.
"They give up . . . we have terminal diseases and don't have the luxury of time," said the Calgarian.
Provincial coverage for marijuana remains a premature scenario, said Carolyn Ziegler, spokeswoman for Alberta Health.
"Alberta Health neither endorses nor discourages the use of medical marijuana," she said in a statement.
"As marijuana is technically still illegal, it is not covered by Alberta Health Insurance."
Changes to federal legislation and regulations could alter that stance, she said.
Canadians with a permit can legally consume medicinal marijuana grown under licence, and the federal Liberal government has vowed to legalize the drug for recreational use.
Rethink Breast Cancer's campaign is being funded by licensed medical marijuana producers Medreleaf and Aphria Inc.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Canadian Breast Cancer Patient Calls For Province To Cover Medical Marijuana
Author: Bill Kaufmann
Contact: Calgary Herald
Photo Credit: Postmedia
Website: Calgary Herald
