The Quebec College of Physicians long-standing position, repeated Tuesday, is that “the use of cannabis for medical purposes is not a treatment that is recognized by the medical profession.”
Dr. Yves Robert, secretary of the College, added that medical marijuana creates “a dependency” similar to tobacco, and that is something that concerns physicians.
If it was totally up to my rheumatologist, a most competent doctor and a fine young man, I would not have been able to secure an Authorization to Possess weed for medicinal purposes. For this man believes in keeping one’s body as clean as possible.
This particular M.D. would even avoid prescribing pain killers if this was indeed possible. When I was diagnosed with Scleroderma in October of 2008, my G.P. referred me to this rheumatologist who, as a matter of policy, does not as a general rule prescribe pain-killers unless the patient – me in this case – asks for them.
Lee suggested that I request pain-killers after I had been diagnosed when my pain level became unbearable. I went in about two weeks later and asked the good doctor to prescribe pain-killers of one sort or another and he did so. No problem and things got better. Pain-wise, at least. And quickly too.
I managed to get a prescription for med-pot from my GP who has been my doctor for over ten years. I then sent this prescription form duly completed by my doctor to the people at Health Canada. Once approved by them, I received my Authorization to Possess med-pot, in an amount of up to 45 grams per month/1,5 g. per day.
I then took my Authorization To Possess from the government to the Medicinal Cannabis Access Society (MCAS) or any other of the so-called Compassion Clubs which would then fill your orders – either in person or online – for any of the following med-pot products: hash oil, cookies, brownies, blondies, bubble caps, pot, hash, chocolates, peanut butter squares, macaroons, etc.
Starting at the end of this month, things will change. Basically now it will work like this: I buy pot from a government-approved grower of which there should be anywhere from between twelve and twenty, and the names of which will be supplied either online via the Health Canada website or by Compassion Clubs like MCAS. Once I have my pot, I then proceed to deal with a Compassion Club who will produce whatever I order – hash oil which is my favourite for example – from the weed which I bring to them.
Weed which used to go at a healthy and very fair $5.00 per gram when it came from Health Canada, will rise in price to at least $7.50, an increase of fifty percent as a result of the privatization of the pot growing industry. No longer will grow ops produce pot for the government who would then “middle” the med-pot to patients like me; now the companies, once they have secured government approval, are free to go ahead and sell pot directly to clients.
I have already been in contact with the first company on the Health Canada website listing and asked about the price. “Seven-fifty a gram,” I was told.
That’s the way the cookie crumbles.
Peter Tosh’s reggae lightens up this Sunday.
Peace out.