2013-95
July 26, 2013
OTTAWA - Contrary to the impression created in in your article ("Medical pot users facing production D-Day"), the new Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) will deliver definite benefits to patients and communities.
The MMPR introduce conditions for a competitive new industry for the production and distribution of dried marihuana for medical purposes. This industry will exist as a free market and licensed producers will be responsible for setting the price for their products. Licensed producers will provide access to quality-controlled marihuana for medical purposes, while strengthening the safety of Canadian communities. Personal and designated production will be phased out. This will reduce the health and safety risks, such as fire and toxic mould hazards, to individuals and to the Canadian public, while allowing for a quality-controlled and more secure product for medical use.
Under the new regulations, licensed producers will have to meet extensive security and quality control requirements. They will also be subject to compliance and enforcement measures, and dried marihuana will only be shipped through a secure delivery service directly to the address the client has specified. Taken together, these measures will reduce the risks of diversion of marihuana to illicit markets in order to protect public health and safety.
The government's goal is to treat dried marihuana as much as possible like other narcotics used for medical purposes.
Sincerely,
Robert Ianiro
Director General, Controlled Substances and Tobacco Directorate
Health Environments and Consumer Safety Branch
Health Canada
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