medical marijuana

BY MATTHEW CLAXTON, LANGLEY ADVANCE

The former clients of a Langley medical marijuana dispensary raided by RCMP last month are organizing a petition and campaign to have it re-opened.

“People should be able to access medicine that has been prescribed by their doctor,” said Dan Mackle, who was the first client of the dispensary, which ran for about 11 months in Langley City on Fraser Highway.

Randy Caine, the local business owner who opened and operated the dispensary, was licensed by Health Canada to supply marijuana to three clients, but had about 150 active members when it was raided in July.

Police seized pot and baked goods along with some cash. Read more »

BY MAIRIN PRENTISS, The Coast

Misdirecting marks like a carnival caller, the Department of Community Services announced new regulations this month that will revoke the right for income assistance recipients to appeal for essential health items under special needs funding---providing examples such as hot tubs, medical marijuana, swimming lessons, and gym memberships as items that will no longer be covered.

It was heralded as if the government had finally turned on the lights and scatted the Bacchanalian pool party, cajoling public congratulations for tightening purse strings. Contrary to Community Services minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse’s statements saying that the policy was simply tweaked to close up a loophole, Dalhousie Legal Aid’s Claire McNeil says that DCS skirted public consultation and changed the law, scrapping access to critical health services for those most in need.  Read more »

By Yolande Cole, Georgia Straight

A former RCMP officer and his wife are pursuing legal action after they say their medical marijuana facilities were raided by Sooke RCMP.

Cam Cavaco, who has late-stage progressive multiple sclerosis, and his wife Marnie O’Neil, who acts as his caregiver and is living with fibromyalgia, are suing Health Canada and the RCMP after they allege their medical marijuana plants were destroyed twice within six months.

The statement of claim filed by the couple’s attorney Kirk Tousaw alleges that Sooke RCMP raided Cavaco’s Health Canada licensed facilities without a warrant in December 2009, then destroyed the facilities. Read more »

ctvmontreal.ca

MONTREAL — Health Canada held a hearing in Montreal on Wednesday to hear from groups concerned about the future of medical marijuana in Canada.

Legal use of the drug has been in a grey zone for almost a decade, since the Supreme Court of Canada ruled marijuana use for medical reasons was permissible.

However acquiring marijuana has been a problem for thousands of would-be users.

Many doctors have refused to provide prescriptions for marijuana, so compassion clubs and dispensaries were handing it out to anyone who showed up with what was considered to be a valid medical reason. Read more »

By Garrett Simmons, Taber Times

The first thing Tamara Cartwright wants everyone to know about her is she’s definitely not a drug dealer.

Earlier this month, Cartwright was given a conditional sentence after she pleaded guilty to trafficking in a controlled substance. The charge stemmed from an April 15 incident when Cartwright attempted to mail four grams of marijuana from a Taber postal outlet.

Despite the difficulties the case presented to the crown prosecutor, who stated in court the accused possessed a medical-marijuana exemption, the case was still brought to court and eventually led to Cartwright being sentenced.

“I took the conditional sentence,” she said. “I just wanted it to be over.” Read more »

Dana and Nicole discuss recent raids on Medicinal Marijuana dispensaries in BC and how you can join the NDP to help end the War on Drugs.
Nicole tells us how to get involved at every level of politics. Read more »

By: ALEX BOUTILIER, Metro Halifax

A group of people living with disabilities and their advocates are calling on the provincial government to reverse a decision to limit health benefits for those living on income assistance.

According to Dalhousie Legal Aid lawyer Claire McNeil, changes to the Employment Support and Income Assistance Act will hurt the province’s most vulnerable citizens.

At issue is a section in the act, repealed on Aug. 8, that allowed caseworkers to provide special-needs assistance for drugs or treatments not covered under provincial MSI — such as psychiatric treatment, massage therapy or medical marijuana. Read more »

CBC News

Advocates for people with disabilities say policy changes at Community Services will hurt Nova Scotia's most vulnerable people.

The department has tightened the rules for special needs funding. As a result, it will no longer pay for some drugs and medical services for clients on income assistance.

April Keddy was three years old when she was diagnosed with a rare disorder. She spent much of her childhood in hospital and at 31, she still battles many symptoms and a lot of pain.

Since Keddy started massage therapy, she's reduced the amount of her medication, is in less pain and has greatly improved her quaility of life. Read more »

By Matt Mernagh - Cannabis Culture

Ontario Court of Appeal court dates have been chosen for R v. Mernagh. The court ruling gutting Canada’s federal medical marijuana program, personal possession and cultivation laws is set to be heard March 5 and 6.

A small team of talented lawyers will descend on Toronto, ON, Osgoode Hall for two days to argue before a panel of three judges. Earlier this summer federal prosecutors won a reprieve on a 90 day marijuana legalization deadline. In exchange for a legal time out - prosecutors were ordered to have their case ready by mid-November. Team Mernagh was given an option to chose the dates. Given the lengthy prep required to defend their victory they've opted for March. Training will start in the new year. Read more »

By ELLIOT FERGUSON, THE WHIG-STANDARD

Organizers of Kingston's first medical marijuana dispensary say the club will re-open.

In a statement last week, the Kingston Compassion Club Society announced plans to re-open Aug. 22, more than two months after closing.

On June 19, Kingston police responded to a report of a break-in at the club's office in the Medical Arts Building on Princess Street.

The incident was reported after club workers noticed an online security video feed from the office had been interrupted.

When police arrived, officers determined none of the three club workers present at the time was legally permitted to possess marijuana for medical reasons. Read more »