Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Advocates for medicinal use of marijuana have a serious image problem. When they gather to protest the many shortcomings of the medical marijuana program and policies, they can appear to be their own worst enemies, decked out in suitable pot-smoking attire, sometimes with joints on display. But behind these caricatures, there is a serious issue, one that is penalizing critically ill Canadians who want nothing more than to control chronic pain and other symptoms often associated with serious and terminal illness.
Martin Kaneva is such a Canadian. Diagnosed with metastatic gastric cancer in December, the former chef has a feeding tube, a 50-50 chance of survival and serious pain and nausea management issues. Marijuana helps. And under Canadian law, Kaneva and another 5,000 or so citizens meet the necessary requirements to obtain a so-called medical marijuana licence, which would enable him to legally purchase the drug he now has to buy illegally.
Many people are skeptical about the medical marijuana regime. Fair enough. But these are the facts. There is credible scientific and medical evidence to show that people with end-of-life conditions or certain diseases, such as cancer, can experience success with pain relief, nausea control and a general feeling of well-being through use of marijuana. That evidence was compelling enough that Canadian lawmakers passed legislation allowing Health Canada to issue licences to approved patients. Kaneva has a prescription for the pot. He has waited five months, and endured broken commitments, obfuscation and general foot-dragging. Health Canada itself acknowledges it has a “temporary delay in processing applications,” attributed to a growth in demand.
Imagine what would happen if patients needing morphine were denied. The hue and cry would be immediate and loud: Critically ill Canadians should not have to suffer because of government ineptitude or intransigence. That marijuana has more baggage isn’t the point. The law exists, and it needs to be respected.
NewsHawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: thespec.com
Author: Howard Elliott
Copyright: 2010 Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Contact: The Spec : Contact us | TheSpec.com
Website: TheSpec - Follow the law on marijuana
Martin Kaneva is such a Canadian. Diagnosed with metastatic gastric cancer in December, the former chef has a feeding tube, a 50-50 chance of survival and serious pain and nausea management issues. Marijuana helps. And under Canadian law, Kaneva and another 5,000 or so citizens meet the necessary requirements to obtain a so-called medical marijuana licence, which would enable him to legally purchase the drug he now has to buy illegally.
Many people are skeptical about the medical marijuana regime. Fair enough. But these are the facts. There is credible scientific and medical evidence to show that people with end-of-life conditions or certain diseases, such as cancer, can experience success with pain relief, nausea control and a general feeling of well-being through use of marijuana. That evidence was compelling enough that Canadian lawmakers passed legislation allowing Health Canada to issue licences to approved patients. Kaneva has a prescription for the pot. He has waited five months, and endured broken commitments, obfuscation and general foot-dragging. Health Canada itself acknowledges it has a “temporary delay in processing applications,” attributed to a growth in demand.
Imagine what would happen if patients needing morphine were denied. The hue and cry would be immediate and loud: Critically ill Canadians should not have to suffer because of government ineptitude or intransigence. That marijuana has more baggage isn’t the point. The law exists, and it needs to be respected.
NewsHawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: thespec.com
Author: Howard Elliott
Copyright: 2010 Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Contact: The Spec : Contact us | TheSpec.com
Website: TheSpec - Follow the law on marijuana
