Marketing Mary Jane
The problem with making it harder for medical marijuana producers to advertise their products, as Hilary Beaumont's story "Pot promos get nipped in the bud by Health Canada" (February 5) describes, is that smells and flavour ARE important. They are created by terpinoids which could be, probably are, an important aspect of cannabinoid therapy. We don't know for sure because the government has made it extremely difficult to do research on cannabis. —posted by Kevin Arnold at thecoast.ca
Leave it to Health Canada to attempt taking away patients' grow licenses after giving them out for 10 years to over 28,000 people, and trying to end a program that worked—although it was extremely difficult to access—where patients would know exactly what strains to grow, for whatever is ailing them for about a dollar per gram. Now comes trying to make things "better" by forcing patients to pay 10 times more per gram for strains that the producers have changed the original names of, and since they can't tell you what ailment it helps with, you'll just have to try five different types at $12 per gram, so $60 plus tax and shipping. And if none worked for that chemo that's decimating every living cell in your body by the second, then what? No problem, buy five or 10 other strains for another $140 and cross your fingers that one works.
Give me a break. It'll be two weeks and over $200 before you MIGHT get the medication you need IMMEDIATELY! Dying from cancer or having your entire digestion ruined from Crohn's, or being in constant chronic pain isn't bad enough? This is how we treat our sick and dying citizens? It's shameful.
Even more shameful is the motive: TAX MONEY from licensed producers. Health Canada finally saw the potential dollars to be made, and they're trying to pull the wool over the public's eyes to attempt to end a program that gives them no tax money. Licensed producers should be an option for those who can't or choose not to grow their own, but don't make them operate with one hand tied behind their back, using suffering patients as guinea pigs.
The entire US is well on its way to full adult legalization, making their tax money without taking it off the backs of their sick and dying citizens, while we are still locking people in cages and throwing away the key. And when you get out, you've lost your job and health benefits, and the bank now owns your house, car and credit cards that you couldn't make the payments on. If all this isn't reason enough to vote for Justin Trudeau, I don't know what is. —posted by Ron Nemeth
All this hullaballoo will soon be for naught. It's a feeble attempt to please the small (minded) minority. Within a few years, we will be the country with the MOST progressive policy on the use of marijuana and will stop this rationalized-by-medical-use nonsense. —posted by Hing Frogg
Alone time
The most shocking fact for me in the solitary confinement story is that inmates with mental health issues are not permitted their medication ("Five years of solitude," Feature by Jacob Boon, February 5). It seems to me solitary's pretty cruel all around, but this is just asking for trouble. —posted by Michime
I've been there, and even a short period of time in there can really mess with someone who is already suffering. They need to start treating people with mental illnesses as opposed to criminalizing them. —posted by Carole Hanrahan
If you believe NS correctional services director Sean Kelly, what more needs to be said? Asking the fox if there are problems with the way he runs the chicken house, expect him to say all is well—could use a few more chickens though. —Charles Goddard, Halifax
Sometimes a non-violent, usually first-time offender, requests admin seg as a way of staying safe. Burnside is a very dangerous place if you have no criminal ties and no real street skills. A white-collar offender who hasn't fought since school will be quickly noticed, used and abused.—posted by streetneat
You need to get a grasp on terminology. Prisons are federal, whereas jails are provincial. You stated you hadn't contacted Springhill or Nova so your use of the word prison was very distracting. —posted by Bossiestdan
