PATIENTS
NEIL ALLARD:
1. Why did you want to get involved in this case?
1. I became involved with the MMAR Coalition Against Repeal which was founded by a cannabis patient and grower, Jason Wilcox, whom you have had contact with earlier. Last fall I sent in a donation along with a lengthy impact statement about how the proposed changes by Health Canada would drastically and very negatively affect me and put me at risk medically, financially and legally. I was chosen to be one of the plaintiffs to work with lawyer, John Conroy, on our class action lawsuit which was later modified to a constitutional challenge. The decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in this case will be binding on all Canadians, so all the current 40,000 authorized cannabis growers will be affected by the decision.
2. What will the federal government's changes to medical marijuana regulations mean for you?
The federal government is unfairly targeting vulnerable, sick and dying Canadians, most of whom are on low income and disability payments. This government is attempting to completely restrict and deny our rights to grow our own organically grown quality cannabis herbs which we have been doing safely for years, growing the strains which work best for us. I have been authorized to grow since 2004.
The Crown is claiming safety issues, mould and fires as the reasons for eliminating the home growing, yet there were never any guidelines set up for safety, and there were no inspections. The government and the RCMP have used the media to report a great deal of misinformation to the general public about these alleged safety and health concerns in order to set up commercial profit-driven businesses. As a result of the black market prices, patients such as myself will be essentially denied our herbal medicine or be made to pay outrageous prices because of these arbitrary restrictions .
We also currently have access to edibles, oils, tinctures, salves, and juicing, from our own plants but the government considers these illegal and is challenging a decision from BC courts which gave us the right to make edibles from the cannabis plant. This will also be challenged by our Coalition as part of our claim with the Supreme Court of Canada.
This government also wants us to destroy all of our own plants and medicine as of April 1, 2014 and purchase dried flowers of unknown quality through the mail at prices that none of us can afford. I think most people would find the idea to be absolutely ridiculous!
In terms of the costs, my daily prescribed dosage is 20 grams so at a cost of $7.50 per gram, I would be needing to pay $150.00 per day in addition to shipping and taxes. This adds up to approximately $4500.00 plus taxes and shipping every month for my prescription. That is more than total monthly income, and includes only dried buds and nothing else. I reiterate that I grow cannabis for my own personal use only at a cost of approximately $200- $300 per month, which is a fraction of the costs charged by commercial licensed producers.
I have outlined all of my concerns in an 11 page affidavit supported by medical documentation as to my need for cannabis. This is public information and provides much more detail than I am able to give you an e-mail or brief interview.
The one question I have for you and your listeners is this: How would any of you feel if your medical costs were to suddenly jump from $300. per month to over $4000.00 per month because of an arbitrary decision made by a government for ideological reasons?
3. What will you do, come April 1st?
I expect that we will prevail in Court and retain our Charter rights to continue to grow our own cannabis herbs.
1. Why did you want to get involved in this case?
1. I became involved with the MMAR Coalition Against Repeal which was founded by a cannabis patient and grower, Jason Wilcox, whom you have had contact with earlier. Last fall I sent in a donation along with a lengthy impact statement about how the proposed changes by Health Canada would drastically and very negatively affect me and put me at risk medically, financially and legally. I was chosen to be one of the plaintiffs to work with lawyer, John Conroy, on our class action lawsuit which was later modified to a constitutional challenge. The decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in this case will be binding on all Canadians, so all the current 40,000 authorized cannabis growers will be affected by the decision.
2. What will the federal government's changes to medical marijuana regulations mean for you?
The federal government is unfairly targeting vulnerable, sick and dying Canadians, most of whom are on low income and disability payments. This government is attempting to completely restrict and deny our rights to grow our own organically grown quality cannabis herbs which we have been doing safely for years, growing the strains which work best for us. I have been authorized to grow since 2004.
The Crown is claiming safety issues, mould and fires as the reasons for eliminating the home growing, yet there were never any guidelines set up for safety, and there were no inspections. The government and the RCMP have used the media to report a great deal of misinformation to the general public about these alleged safety and health concerns in order to set up commercial profit-driven businesses. As a result of the black market prices, patients such as myself will be essentially denied our herbal medicine or be made to pay outrageous prices because of these arbitrary restrictions .
We also currently have access to edibles, oils, tinctures, salves, and juicing, from our own plants but the government considers these illegal and is challenging a decision from BC courts which gave us the right to make edibles from the cannabis plant. This will also be challenged by our Coalition as part of our claim with the Supreme Court of Canada.
This government also wants us to destroy all of our own plants and medicine as of April 1, 2014 and purchase dried flowers of unknown quality through the mail at prices that none of us can afford. I think most people would find the idea to be absolutely ridiculous!
In terms of the costs, my daily prescribed dosage is 20 grams so at a cost of $7.50 per gram, I would be needing to pay $150.00 per day in addition to shipping and taxes. This adds up to approximately $4500.00 plus taxes and shipping every month for my prescription. That is more than total monthly income, and includes only dried buds and nothing else. I reiterate that I grow cannabis for my own personal use only at a cost of approximately $200- $300 per month, which is a fraction of the costs charged by commercial licensed producers.
I have outlined all of my concerns in an 11 page affidavit supported by medical documentation as to my need for cannabis. This is public information and provides much more detail than I am able to give you an e-mail or brief interview.
The one question I have for you and your listeners is this: How would any of you feel if your medical costs were to suddenly jump from $300. per month to over $4000.00 per month because of an arbitrary decision made by a government for ideological reasons?
3. What will you do, come April 1st?
I expect that we will prevail in Court and retain our Charter rights to continue to grow our own cannabis herbs.