Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 10:22:08 -0400 From: freematt@coil.com (Matthew Gaylor) Subject: Hempfest 2001 : Canada Update 04/01 To: freematt@coil.com (Matthew Gaylor)
From: Planetary Pride <hempfest2001@planetarypride.com> To: freematt@coil.com Date: Sat, 07 Apr 2001 14:34:16 +0100 Subject: Hempfest 2001 : Canada Update 04/01 Organization: Planetary Pride
Well here we are another month closer to Hempfest 2001: Canada and Canada will become the only country in the world with a government-regulated system for using marijuana as medicine, under provisions unveiled Friday. The marijuana access program is being justified partly on compassionate grounds and partly as a scientific research effort, and is attracting little criticism even from social conservatives. The government has introduced new regulations that they hope will satisfy the courts to allow for the medical usage of marijuana. There are three categories that would allow a medical user or care giver to possess or grow marijuana. People with terminal illnesses, those with serious medical conditions and people with symptoms associated with other medical conditions would be eligible.
The measures will also allow the government to license third parties to grow marijuana for individual sufferers who can't grow it for themselves, says the release."If you are terminally ill, you might not want to have to grow it yourself. So you can designate someone else to be the one who would produce it or grow it for you," said Catherine Lape, a government spokeswoman.Under the proposals, the government would licence the maximum number of indoor and outdoor plants depending on the patient's daily needs.Every patient wishing to use medical pot would have to either grow it or designate another person to grow it for him or her. A designated grower would not be allowed to supply more than three patients. The government has so far allowed about 210 people to smoke marijuana without fear of prosecution because of medical reasons.The regulations areexpected to come into effect by July 31. Unfortunately the proposed rules would not allow so-called "compassion clubs" that have sprung up in major cities to supply medical marijuana.
The new rules create three categories of people who can possess the drug: those with terminal illnesses with a prognosis of death within one year, those with symptoms associated with serious medical conditions, and those suffering from symptoms with other medical conditions.
Easiest access would be for those expected to die within a year.In the case of a terminal patient, the drug will be supplied only if the government can determine that all conventional treatments for the symptoms have been tried or considered and that marijuana would mitigate symptoms.
Next would come people suffering severe pain, nausea, anorexia, seizures, spasms or weakness from specified diseases including cancer,AIDS, multiple sclerosis and arthritis.These patients would require a statement from a medical specialist saying conventional treatments have been tried and found inappropriate. Sufferers in Category 2 can only get the drug if they can prove other treatments were ineffective, if the patient experienced allergic reactions to other treatments, or if the treatment prescribed causes undesirable reactions when used with another medication. Severe arthritis is classed as a Category-2 condition, along with cancer, AIDS, HIV infection, MS and several other ailments. The drug would be used to alleviate persistent muscle spasms, seizures, severe pain, nausea, weight loss and anorexia, among other symptoms. Arthritis affects one in seven Canadians and is characterized by pain, swelling and stiffness of the joints.Arthritis is not a single disorder, but the name for joint disease from a number of causes.In its most serious form, arthritis can be extremely painful, making any movement excruciating and difficult. The most common form is known as osteoarthritis. It results from wear and tear on the joints, often developing in middle age and most cmmonly affecting people who are 60 years or older.
Patients with medical conditions not specified in the regulations would fall into a third category, and would have to obtain statements from two physicians with one being a specialist.
We will be meeting with several members of the liberal caucus this coming week to discuss the new proposed legislation in great detail and to offer up some advice. Such as the proposed rules sound very bureaucratic. Many patients will have difficulty finding a doctor willing to support their application if they can find one at all. With the state of our Health Care System many people are left without a family physician in
The posters and promotional material for Hempfest 2001:Canada will be going to print May 1st and there will be distribution at the 2001 Space Odyssey Marijuana March in Toronto, Ont. by the GTA Marijuana Party. Be sure to get to the march nearest you, find out where by going to http://www.2001thespaceodyssey.com
This years lineup of entertainers and speakers is starting to grow. Again we will have some amazing talent to entertain you with this year. Including Scott Huckabay ( http://www.scotthuckabay.com ) who is a amazing performer and is sure to inspire and motivate all who listen to his music.Scott Huckabay's story is inspirational, after a near fatal motorcycle accident and was never to walk or use his right hand again, here he is on stage performing in front of audiences world wide mesmerizing them with his music. Huckabay pushes his acoustic guitar to the edge with driving aerobic rhythms, exquisite harmonics, and a gifted combination of passion, soul and fire. Scott will take you on a unforgettable musical journey complete with rhythmic surprises and special effects. He manages to create the sound of three guitars at once - bass, rhythm, and lead- all accomplished in real-time on one guitar with no over-dubs. Last year Scott was the only entertainer that got a standing ovation and the audience demanded an encore. You gotta hear this guy play, and to see him is unreal.
Stay tuned to http://www.planetarypride.com for more information as it is posted. Tickets will be available starting next month. Due to the fact that we allow alcohol onto the property we must put a age restriction of 19 years of age or accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. We are sorry for any inconvenience we may cause the younger generation but due to insurance regulations we must impose this condition.
We will be making a donation to two organizations with a portion of the proceeds and those organizations are: The Marijuana Defense Fund & The GTA Marijuana Party
There will be more info on the event coming soon.
Thank you and have a hempy day. "Free the Plant, Save the Planet"
Rob Waddell
Planetary Pride 246 Queen Street East Sault Ste Marie Ontario, Canada P6A 1Y7 http://www.planetarypride.com Toll Free: 1-888-215-8970 Local:705-254-3926 Fax: 705-254-3610
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