2013-109
August 1, 2013
OTTAWA - Contrary to what is stated in your article ("Up In Smoke"), under the new Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) announced by the Government of Canada on June 10, 2013, the fundamental role of health care practitioners does not change. The responsibility to assess a patient and decide on an appropriate treatment has always rested with health care practitioners, as it should. Under the MMPR, individuals must still consult an authorized health care practitioner; however, the new regime eliminates the need for individuals to share health information with Health Canada.
The Government of Canada's new Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) will continue to provide reasonable access to a legal source of marihuana for medical purposes. However, the current practice of allowing individuals to produce marihuana for medical purposes in private dwellings poses a number of health, security and safety risks to Canadians. The high value of marihuana on the illicit market increases the risks of home invasion and diversion to the black market. These production operations could present fire and toxic mould hazards. These risks are not only felt by home producers, but potentially also by their neighbours and community members.
The new regulations are intended to provide reasonable access for those Canadians who need dried marihuana for medical purposes while protecting public safety.
Under the new regulations, licensed producers will have to meet extensive security and quality control requirements including requesting security clearance for certain key positions, and meeting physical security requirements (such as a security system that detects intruders). Licensed producers 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.
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
Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch
Health Canada
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