Photo via your old college roommate, and NPR

Not everyone loves things organic and locally grown like you do. Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq’s plan to outlaw home-grown medical marijuana for the 30,000 licensed Canadians was finalized yesterday following nearly two years of debate. The motion stands on one main argument: that the system has been abused, illustrated by an overwhelming growth from 500 medical-marijuana users in 2001, to 30,000 today. Also of concern are the incidences of electrical fires caused by home grow-ops.

Aglukkaq’s approved solution consists of mail-order deliveries only, which puts to rest security concerns of pharmacies stocked with potent, government-grown pot. The Canadian Pharmacists Association appears to be weary of medical marijuana as a concept, stating, “there is little information available on safety, effectiveness, dosage, drug interactions or long-term health risks.”

Dana Larsen of Sensible BC sees only one solution to the problem of medical-marijuana control. “The only reason for medical marijuana laws is to make it illegal for everyone who doesn’t have a doctor’s note,” said Larsen. “If we legalize marijuana, the medical-marijuana problem is solved.”

[via Canada.com and the Globe and Mail]

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 Jeremy Schipper is an intern at Toronto Standard. You can follow him on Twitter at @jeromeoschipps.

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