Canadian Health News

Canadian Government & the Marijuana Game

Health Canada is on the hot seat over its’ handling of medical marijuana, which became available in 2003. It’s reported that individuals with medical prescriptions owe over $500,000 for marijuana received. There are 739 registered users in Canada, who have a variety of health issues, including cancer, Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS. Health Canada provides licenses to certified users, who've been prescribed cannabis by their doctors, and allows them to grow their own, have someone grow it for them, or buy directly from the department. Although people can receive prescriptions from their doctors, and receive the drug from the grower of choice of the Canadian government, Prairie Plant Systems Inc. (based in Flin Flon, Manitoba) marijuana is not covered under medical services plans as a prescription drug.

Health Canada is reported to have paid their producer over $10 million since 2003 and said it plans to stop providing licenses to individuals who can grow their own medicine at home, thus forcing all medical users to buy their supplies directly from the government. Recipients, who are often impoverished, unable to work, on disability and cannot afford to pay the high price charged by Health Canada, which apparently applies a 1500 percent mark up on the product provided by Prairie Plant Systems. Complaints have also been made about the quality of the product grown by the government’s grower, with THC content at 12.5, which is below street sold marijuana. Many of these ill citizens have had to return to the black market for their medication, while Health Canada turns their names over to collection agencies. Some are able to obtain medical marijuana products from Compassion Clubs with the support of their doctors.