(Canadian) Conservatives launching billion-dollar free market in medical marijuana

[GliderGuider]

Source: Globe and Mail

The Conservative government is launching a $1.3-billion free market in medical marijuana this Tuesday, eventually providing an expected 450,000 Canadians with quality weed.

Health Canada is phasing out an older system on Monday that mostly relied on small-scale, homegrown medical marijuana of varying quality, often diverted illegally to the black market.

In its place, large indoor marijuana farms certified by the RCMP and health inspectors will produce, package and distribute a range of standardized weed, all of it sold for whatever price the market will bear. The first sales are expected in the next few weeks, delivered directly by secure courier.

Health Canada is placing no limits on the number of these new capital-intensive facilities, which will have mandatory vaults and security systems. Private-dwelling production will be banned. Imports from places such as the Netherlands will be allowed. Already 156 firms have applied for lucrative producer and distributor status since June, with the first two receiving licences just last week.

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/federal-government-to-launch-billion-dollar-free-market-in-medical-marijuana/article14590161/

[bahrbearian]

1. Oh for god sakes this is Woo Medicine right Sid?

[1000words]

2. In homage:

[Electric Monk]

3. Looked at another way, it forbids medical mj users from growing their own anymore.

As I understand it, currently they can grow a couple plants for personal use if they have a proper prescription. That won't be allowed anymore.

[NYC_SKP]

5. Seems a gift to those well funded enough to start up big operations.

And a slap in the face to the little producers.

Just Like America!

[inch4progress]

15. Also a slap to those who can't afford food, let alone Conservatives overpriced Medical MJ

[NBachers]

4. "Gitcher corporate pot contracts right heeyah- Sorry, no small growers allowed"

"Sorry, chump, ya just can't play wit' the big boys."

[Revanchist]

6. I expect the United States to follow this model

If medical marijuana ever become legalized on a federal level here I wouldn't be surprised if this is the model they adopt.

[Lonr]

7. "Private-dwelling production will be banned"

Sounds like a pretty raw deal designed to generate corporate profits at the expense of those who could grow this plant themselves at a lower cost than "what the market will bare"...

[DeSwiss]

8. +1000

''Patients often use several grams a day to alleviate a wide range of symptoms, including cancer-related pain and nausea. They’ll no longer be allowed to grow it for themselves under the new rules.''

[PSPS]

9. In other words, a money laundering scheme for conservative politicians

Already 156 firms have applied for lucrative producer and distributor status since June, with the first two receiving licences just last week.

Instead of private growing, it will be limited to these now-wealthy "producers and distributors" who will sell "for whatever price the market will bear." In the conservative mind, you just can't let anyone suffer without making a profit from it.

And, no doubt, they will dutifully launder part of their profits back to the (conservative) politicians as a "campaign contribution."

[daleo]

10. I think it will be hard to successfully prosecute small home growers as time goes on

They will do so, but juries will probably start to reject the rank hypocracy.

[Bigmack]

12. Hope springs eternal. nt

[NealK]

11. K&R n/t

[Joe Shlabotnik]

13. this,

from the party that ran on "small government". I guess the temptation is just too great when you also run the police and prisons.

[Taverner]

14. Wow, what an ANTI-CAPTIALIST plan

[TeamPooka]

16. Prohibition is a failed public policy. nt

[LiberalLovinLug]

17. Now it will just be gangs and gov making profit

The system they are throwing out was good also for the casual rec user. Many of these growers would grow a little extra and sell it on the side. Not technically legal but it meant you were buying from mom and pop grows instead of the Hell's Angels. And because many were doing that the prices have been fairly low.

This "what the market will bear" scares me. They will go all out to eradicate any home growers and throw them all in jail so they can jack the prices and your only alternative is to feed the gangs.

[Lenomsky]

18. If the capitalists charge too much ..

the underground growers will charge less.

I can't see individuals being prosecuted for a few plants for personal consumption where large Organizations are growing for profit.

Having been a weed smoker for many years I personally wouldn't mind some standards in place even if it was large corporations milking the profits. Shrubbery here can cost anything from 180-300GBP an Oz and the grade varies enormously regardless of price from dirt weed to pristine flowers. I'd like to know exactly what I'm getting for my money .. which I generally do

[CanSocDem]

19. They may be getting ahead of themselves.

Understandable, considering the pressure put on them by One Puff Justin.

However I seem to remember a developing lawsuit of a year or two ago that was challenging the governments right to '...prevent citizens from growing their own medicine under the Charter of rights and freedoms.'

Despite Justin's benevolent government sanctions or Harpers free market, the true Canadian value is our own human right and freedom.

.

[GliderGuider]

20. Yep. I agree.

I'd be willing to bet that Justin was a regular user, too....

[CanSocDem]

21. Of course.

But I'd be interested to fully understand the use of cannabis in that family. I know other kids of "regular users" who grew up with less...reverence...for it than I or their parents. Not that big a deal for them. Which makes me wonder about Justin.

He's making it a 'big deal' but not in a good way. He's seen its' effect as an agent of Harm Reduction his entire life. In the home, in the culture, in the society. He should be more forthcoming than merely admitting to "...a puff" at a dinner party.

However, if it motivates Harper to unleash the free market that we all know have been sitting by his side, drooling, waiting for permission to save him from all the complicated moral questions, we shouldn't be too disappointed or surprised.

If it shows a profit, it's good.

.