VIANARCHRIS
Well-Known Member
My Rant...now if only someone would listen
Canada's pot laws....where do I start? I am a licensed medical user so I'll focus on the new MMPR laws and how these oppressive rules hurt the most vulnerable as well as how the entire program is discriminatory and violates rights guaranteed under the Canadian Charter. My ultimate goal is to end the ridiculous prohibition of marijuana altogether, but if the courts allow the new medical access rules to be implemented, I don't think I will be around for the bigger fight...it's that simple. The Harper government is playing a game; they pass laws that clearly violate charter rights and previous court decisions and force the poor and sick to go to court to fight for something that is already guaranteed. If the majority of Canadians repeatedly poll in favour of legalization, who exactly is our government representing when they pass these laws? How is it a government who consistently acts contrary to public wishes can be considered even remotely democratic? The fact that it isn't a game to some of us, it really is a matter of life or death, is irrelevant to the power-drunk politicians elected to serve the people. There are, unfortunately, no mandatory minimum prison sentences for oppressive tyranny by an elected official.
First I'll tell you a little about myself and my situation. I am a law abiding fifty year old man with no criminal record. I am married, with two adult, hardworking, equally law abiding sons. I have end-stage osteoarthritis in my knees, rheumatoid arthritis in my hands and have battled depression and anxiety for many years. I 'self-medicated' for decades with alcohol until it almost killed me, sobered up in 2006 and went to a doctor for help. I was told I was too young for a knee replacement, so I was given pain killers to help me out with the estimated 12 year wait. Not only were they ineffective, they caused increased anxiety, irritated my stomach and prevented me from driving after I took them. Next I was given several anti-depressants and anxiety pills to 'fix' my head. I have never felt more suicidal than when I was taking them. I was switched from one drug to another trying to find the one that would work, all the while suffering through horrendous side effects. We never found it, but I am still dealing with the after effects three years later. I have no appetite, I can't sleep more than a few hours at a time and my sex drive is non-existent. I had used marijuana recreationaly since the 1970's and began researching how it could benefit me medically so I asked my doctor...and he outright laughed in my face. The next day I provided a doctor at a medicinal cannabis clinic with proof of my medical conditions,$500 to fill out the forms and had a twenty minute appointment. Several months later Health Canada decided I was indeed sick enough to use this harmless plant. There was no such government scrutiny when I was prescribed the chemical drugs that have caused me so many continuing problems. I was not covered by any drug plan, so being able to grow my own saved me from choosing medicine over food. Everything was going fine, although marijuana doesn't completely eliminate the pain and depression, it makes it bearable without causing nasty side effects. Fast forward to 2014....
The world is waking up to the farce that is marijuana prohibition as several US states legalize recreational use, many more are poised to do the same and President Obama supports them. Whole countries have legalized around the world, but Canada takes a giant leap backwards for even medical use. I have been growing my own medicine for two years without incident, so imagine my surprise when I'm told I have to stop this activity that is threatening the safety of my neighbours and my community. All of a sudden I was going to be a victim (or as our government sees it..the cause) of home invasions,fire and toxic mold and diversion to a black market that exists solely due to the failed prohibition laws . How did I manage to survive those two years before big brother stepped in to save me? How did the 'black market' and gangsters survive for 70 years before legal medical gardens? Just how epidemic are violent home invasions and fires at a LEGAL grow sites that it necessitates the denial of my medicine? I have asked for the figures from Health Canada but did not receive a reply. If it were truly a public safety issue, you would think they would want to defend their position with facts. I got silence.
Health Canada holds a 'public consultation' period, ignores everything they were told by patients, and implements a oppressive program that blatantly violates a previous court decision guaranteeing reasonable access to marijuana for medical purposes. The overwhelming number of licensed user and growers are low income and/or disabled and unable to afford to buy their medicine. Health Canada answers these concerns with granting a limited number of for- profit permits to grow with no regulation on the price that can be charged and turning sick people into criminals if they don't buy from them.
Let's examine how the MMPR is unconstitutional, discriminatory and a breach of patients privacy.
The Canadian Charter guarantees me "...security of the person and not to be denied thereof except in the interest of fundamental justice".The courts have ruled that includes having safe, reasonable access to medical marijuana. With only 10% of doctors willing to approve it's use, the first hurdle to access is a big one. Most find it more economical and much quicker to visit a dedicated marijuana clinic, in person or by Skype, to get past that one. $500 is a huge expense for someone on disability. The next one is much harder to overcome. With the outlawing of home gardens, the patient is now forced to purchase their medicine from a stranger at up to 800 times the cost of growing their own. The cost of an average prescription will be $80 - $100 per day, denying access to the majority and in direct conflict with the previous court ruling. How that isn't blindingly obvious to our overpaid politicians who drafted this legislation is in itself telling.
Why are people who choose to use a natural medicine, a harmless, non-addictive, healing plant, singled out. Doctors prescribe dangerous opiates everyday without any involvement from the government. Can you imagine the public outrage if one needed to register their personal information with Pfizer in order to get their monthly supply of Viagra? Add in the fact that you are made to sign a contract agreeing to buy from them exclusively, even if they change the formula to one that doesn't work and jack up the price. And if you get caught with Cialis you will be arrested. Of all the dangerous, potentially deadly drugs in use, why are marijuana users discriminated against? The charter also guarantees freedom from discrimination based on,among other things, my disability. As my disability requires the use of marijuana to alleviate the symptoms, forcing me to jump through hoops not required of legal users of other drugs is discriminatory. Again...did the Harper government not catch what is so obvious to us or do they just not care? I think the latter...
Unlike the medical use of any other drug, a person choosing to use marijuana is forced to give up their right to privacy by registering with one of the licensed producers.I gave a fictional scenario involving having to register with Pfizer to get Viagra, but it's about to become reality for marijuana patients. These growers are complete strangers and given the potential for huge profit, they are likely, in my opinion, to be associated with members of organized crime. Once they have my name, address and the date of my delivery, I am a sitting duck for anyone with criminal intent. And just to add to my anxiety level, Health Canada sent me a big white envelope announcing to everyone who cared to look that I use marijuana. Can you imagine receiving something from health Canada that indicates on the outside of the envelope which medication one uses to get rid of that embarrassing infection? Why is it OK when it involves marijuana?
Right now I am in a battle for my life with my own government. I will not go back to using the chemical drugs and I can't afford to pay the commercial prices, so my options are to 'live' with pain and depression or continue to give myself a somewhat bearable life and risk arrest and imprisonment. Just the thought of what the future looks like increases my anxiety and stress tenfold. Not exactly what one would expect in a supposedly free and democratic society. I feel like Stephen Harper is holding a gun to my head and if the courts side with him, he's as much as pulled the trigger.
Canada's pot laws....where do I start? I am a licensed medical user so I'll focus on the new MMPR laws and how these oppressive rules hurt the most vulnerable as well as how the entire program is discriminatory and violates rights guaranteed under the Canadian Charter. My ultimate goal is to end the ridiculous prohibition of marijuana altogether, but if the courts allow the new medical access rules to be implemented, I don't think I will be around for the bigger fight...it's that simple. The Harper government is playing a game; they pass laws that clearly violate charter rights and previous court decisions and force the poor and sick to go to court to fight for something that is already guaranteed. If the majority of Canadians repeatedly poll in favour of legalization, who exactly is our government representing when they pass these laws? How is it a government who consistently acts contrary to public wishes can be considered even remotely democratic? The fact that it isn't a game to some of us, it really is a matter of life or death, is irrelevant to the power-drunk politicians elected to serve the people. There are, unfortunately, no mandatory minimum prison sentences for oppressive tyranny by an elected official.
First I'll tell you a little about myself and my situation. I am a law abiding fifty year old man with no criminal record. I am married, with two adult, hardworking, equally law abiding sons. I have end-stage osteoarthritis in my knees, rheumatoid arthritis in my hands and have battled depression and anxiety for many years. I 'self-medicated' for decades with alcohol until it almost killed me, sobered up in 2006 and went to a doctor for help. I was told I was too young for a knee replacement, so I was given pain killers to help me out with the estimated 12 year wait. Not only were they ineffective, they caused increased anxiety, irritated my stomach and prevented me from driving after I took them. Next I was given several anti-depressants and anxiety pills to 'fix' my head. I have never felt more suicidal than when I was taking them. I was switched from one drug to another trying to find the one that would work, all the while suffering through horrendous side effects. We never found it, but I am still dealing with the after effects three years later. I have no appetite, I can't sleep more than a few hours at a time and my sex drive is non-existent. I had used marijuana recreationaly since the 1970's and began researching how it could benefit me medically so I asked my doctor...and he outright laughed in my face. The next day I provided a doctor at a medicinal cannabis clinic with proof of my medical conditions,$500 to fill out the forms and had a twenty minute appointment. Several months later Health Canada decided I was indeed sick enough to use this harmless plant. There was no such government scrutiny when I was prescribed the chemical drugs that have caused me so many continuing problems. I was not covered by any drug plan, so being able to grow my own saved me from choosing medicine over food. Everything was going fine, although marijuana doesn't completely eliminate the pain and depression, it makes it bearable without causing nasty side effects. Fast forward to 2014....
The world is waking up to the farce that is marijuana prohibition as several US states legalize recreational use, many more are poised to do the same and President Obama supports them. Whole countries have legalized around the world, but Canada takes a giant leap backwards for even medical use. I have been growing my own medicine for two years without incident, so imagine my surprise when I'm told I have to stop this activity that is threatening the safety of my neighbours and my community. All of a sudden I was going to be a victim (or as our government sees it..the cause) of home invasions,fire and toxic mold and diversion to a black market that exists solely due to the failed prohibition laws . How did I manage to survive those two years before big brother stepped in to save me? How did the 'black market' and gangsters survive for 70 years before legal medical gardens? Just how epidemic are violent home invasions and fires at a LEGAL grow sites that it necessitates the denial of my medicine? I have asked for the figures from Health Canada but did not receive a reply. If it were truly a public safety issue, you would think they would want to defend their position with facts. I got silence.
Health Canada holds a 'public consultation' period, ignores everything they were told by patients, and implements a oppressive program that blatantly violates a previous court decision guaranteeing reasonable access to marijuana for medical purposes. The overwhelming number of licensed user and growers are low income and/or disabled and unable to afford to buy their medicine. Health Canada answers these concerns with granting a limited number of for- profit permits to grow with no regulation on the price that can be charged and turning sick people into criminals if they don't buy from them.
Let's examine how the MMPR is unconstitutional, discriminatory and a breach of patients privacy.
The Canadian Charter guarantees me "...security of the person and not to be denied thereof except in the interest of fundamental justice".The courts have ruled that includes having safe, reasonable access to medical marijuana. With only 10% of doctors willing to approve it's use, the first hurdle to access is a big one. Most find it more economical and much quicker to visit a dedicated marijuana clinic, in person or by Skype, to get past that one. $500 is a huge expense for someone on disability. The next one is much harder to overcome. With the outlawing of home gardens, the patient is now forced to purchase their medicine from a stranger at up to 800 times the cost of growing their own. The cost of an average prescription will be $80 - $100 per day, denying access to the majority and in direct conflict with the previous court ruling. How that isn't blindingly obvious to our overpaid politicians who drafted this legislation is in itself telling.
Why are people who choose to use a natural medicine, a harmless, non-addictive, healing plant, singled out. Doctors prescribe dangerous opiates everyday without any involvement from the government. Can you imagine the public outrage if one needed to register their personal information with Pfizer in order to get their monthly supply of Viagra? Add in the fact that you are made to sign a contract agreeing to buy from them exclusively, even if they change the formula to one that doesn't work and jack up the price. And if you get caught with Cialis you will be arrested. Of all the dangerous, potentially deadly drugs in use, why are marijuana users discriminated against? The charter also guarantees freedom from discrimination based on,among other things, my disability. As my disability requires the use of marijuana to alleviate the symptoms, forcing me to jump through hoops not required of legal users of other drugs is discriminatory. Again...did the Harper government not catch what is so obvious to us or do they just not care? I think the latter...
Unlike the medical use of any other drug, a person choosing to use marijuana is forced to give up their right to privacy by registering with one of the licensed producers.I gave a fictional scenario involving having to register with Pfizer to get Viagra, but it's about to become reality for marijuana patients. These growers are complete strangers and given the potential for huge profit, they are likely, in my opinion, to be associated with members of organized crime. Once they have my name, address and the date of my delivery, I am a sitting duck for anyone with criminal intent. And just to add to my anxiety level, Health Canada sent me a big white envelope announcing to everyone who cared to look that I use marijuana. Can you imagine receiving something from health Canada that indicates on the outside of the envelope which medication one uses to get rid of that embarrassing infection? Why is it OK when it involves marijuana?
Right now I am in a battle for my life with my own government. I will not go back to using the chemical drugs and I can't afford to pay the commercial prices, so my options are to 'live' with pain and depression or continue to give myself a somewhat bearable life and risk arrest and imprisonment. Just the thought of what the future looks like increases my anxiety and stress tenfold. Not exactly what one would expect in a supposedly free and democratic society. I feel like Stephen Harper is holding a gun to my head and if the courts side with him, he's as much as pulled the trigger.
