Poll: Is it right for Health Canada to charge a 1,500 per cent markup on marijuana

[KanMan]

The Winnipeg Free Press Online Edition

Is it right for Health Canada to charge a 1,500 per cent markup on marijuana sold to people who need it for medical reasons?

KanMan Reviewed by KanMan on 04-16-2007. Poll: Is it right for Health Canada to charge a 1,500 per cent markup on marijuana The Winnipeg Free Press Online Edition Is it right for Health Canada to charge a 1,500 per cent markup on marijuana sold to people who need it for medical reasons? Rating: 5

[mrdevious]

Sorry man but your link just leads to the front page of the site, not the article. You have to make sure you click on the full story first! But we have the jist, no worries.

anywhoo, I've checked out medical marijuana myself (I live in BC) and I didn't really notice a markup at all, in fact the prices were pretty good (though the quality of the pot definately is not). Here's a little table

What I pay:

1 gram = $10 (I never buy single grams)
1/8 = $25
1/4 = $50
1/2 = $80 - $90 (depending of quality)
1 ounce = $150

Health Canada charges $5 a gram, which works out to $140 an ounce. Though I do think they should charge discount prices as part of a health-care subsidy, especially considering their swag-grade quality. It does piss me off though that the government won't subsidize any prescription meds in our supposed free/socialist medical system.

[Markass]

It's a poll on the left hand side.

[mrdevious]

I just saw CTV today, and yes indeed they are raising the prices. That's pretty sad considering those who are on it tend to be extremely ill and living on disability, not exactly able to pay exorbitant prices.

[thcbongman]

I think insurance should start paying for medical marijuana.

In comparison to other medicines without insurance, marijuana is pretty damn cheap. I don't give a damn if they keep marking it up, as long as they allow insurance to cover it. That would be a victory for all that need it.

[Markass]

I think insurance should start paying for medical marijuana.

In comparison to other medicines without insurance, marijuana is pretty damn cheap. I don't give a damn if they keep marking it up, as long as they allow insurance to cover it. That would be a victory for all that need it.

I agree bongman...100%. To the people who use it, it's nearly invaluable..especially for the terminally ill, or those with other serious conditions..

In california the dispensaries get prices of about $4,000 a pound, that's $250 an ounce. They turn around and sell it for anywhere from like $50-120 for 3.5 grams...fucking ridiculous. It's turning into a game about money rather than improving quality of life...Government may soon do this...look at medicare...cost of prescriptions are off the fucking wall, same should be applied for marijuana..people need it just as bad, and some much more. Because it is the only alternative to prescriptions for many users.

[KanMan]

Medical cannabis needs to be given a DIN to get covered by insurance companies.

Canada - DIN = Drug Identification Number. Once a drug has been approved, the Therapeutic Products Directorate is suppose to issue a DIN.

Keith

[Markass]

Medical cannabis needs to be given a DIN to get covered by insurance companies.

Canada - DIN = Drug Identification Number. Once a drug has been approved, the Therapeutic Products Directorate is suppose to issue a DIN.

Keith

I believe our equivalent is the FDA? I'm not sure, but the FDA will never approve a flower. If it's not in a pill, or doesn't kill people, (cough, vioxx, cough), then it's impossible for it to be "safe medicine." gotta love our government. They give MMJ to 5 people every month, yet marijuana has "absolutely no medical use whatsoever"

[KanMan]

Yep they say cannabis has no medical value but they grow cannabis and process it in to 300 joints per month per person.

Can we say hypocritical, to the point of killing thousands each year.
Amazing they continually get away with this for years!

keith

[KanMan]

In light of the current media attention in regards to Health Canada 1500% mark up of the medical cannabis.
See Medpot.net for media reports.
I felt it would be a good time to remind you all about the contaminated government supply!

Quote taken from International Hempology 101 Society

Dr. L. Grinspoon and Hilary Black Leave Cannasat
Friday, November 17th, 2006
Editers Note: The following letter describes Dr. Grinspoons reasons for leaving. We would like to wish Hilary

and the good Dr. the very best in future jouneys.



Dear David,

In response to your last e-mail let me briefly outline my reasons for
resigning from the Cannasat Scientific Advisory Board.

1) When I first heard the complaints about the PPS marijuana which was
being sold as a medicine I became concerned about heavy metal and other
contaminants and shared my concern with Andrew Williams of Cannasat and
asked him if I could see the toxicology reports. I was promised that they
would be sent within two months, as soon as they were available. I asked
for them several times over the course of more than a year; I never received
them.

2) As one who has more than once been threatened with lawsuits and the
loss of my license to practice medicine for things I have written on
cannabis, I was disturbed when I learned that a lawsuit was threatened
against Philippe Lucas in connection with what he wrote about his concerns
about metal contamination and gamma radiation of the PPS product. In my
view, Philippe was behaving in a morally responsible way to raise these
questions and his freedom to do so should not have been challenged in the
way that it was.

3) From the time of the creation of the Scientific Board my counsel was
sought less and less frequently and not at all in connection with any of the
major decisions made in connection with PPS and its product, the direction
of the research, etc. It seemed pointless to remain on the Scientific
Advisory Board of an organization in which I had little influence and
growing doubts.

Early on I met some delightful people and enjoyed working with them. The
standout person, of course, was Hilary Black, whom I have always admired,
and now that I know her through her work with Cannasat, admire even more.
She is a great asset to this movement.

Warm regards,

Lester

Lester Grinspoon M.D.
Harvard Medical School
35 Skyline Drive
Wellesley, MA 02482
(Welcome to Marijuana: The Forbidden Medicine)
(Marijuana Uses - Dr. Lester Grinspoon's Marijuana Uses)

International Hempology 101 Society