New federal regulations deem marijuana dispensaries illegal
–Health Canada, Government of Canada
In response to the Federal Court of Canada’s decision in Allard v. Canada, Health Canada today announced the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR). The ACMPR will replace the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) as the regulations governing Canada’s medical cannabis program, and will come into force on August 24, 2016.
Health Canada is confident that the ACMPR provides reasonable access to cannabis for medical purposes and addresses the issue identified by the Federal Court.
Under the ACMPR, Canadians who have been authorized by their health care practitioner to access cannabis for medical purposes will be able to produce a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes, or designate someone to produce it for them. They will also continue to have the option of purchasing safe, quality-controlled cannabis from one of the 34 producers licensed by Health Canada.
Individuals wishing to produce a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes, or to designate someone to produce it for them, will need to obtain authorization from their health care practitioner and register with Health Canada. Additional information on how to register and legally purchase starting materials will be available on Health Canada’s website on August 24.
Health Canada will work closely with provincial authorities, which regulate health care practitioners, to share data and information, such as the quantities of cannabis being authorized for medical purposes in their jurisdiction. Health Canada will also continue to support law enforcement representatives by providing a dedicated phone line that is accessible 24 hours a day and seven days a week to confirm, when necessary, that specific individuals are authorized to possess or produce a limited amount of cannabis for medical purposes.
The ACMPR will continue to be evaluated in an effort to ensure that individuals authorized to access cannabis for their own medical purposes have reasonable access. Health Canada is also committed to studying other models, including pharmacy distribution, to provide access to cannabis for medical purposes.
Canadians are reminded that access to cannabis for medical purposes is only permitted under the terms and conditions set out in these regulations. Storefronts selling marijuana, commonly known as “dispensaries” and “compassion clubs” are not authorized to sell cannabis for medical or any other purposes. These operations are illegally supplied, and provide products that are unregulated and may be unsafe. Illegal storefront distribution and sale of cannabis in Canada are subject to law enforcement action.
The ACMPR are designed to provide an immediate solution required to address the Court judgement. These regulatory changes should not be interpreted as being the longer-term plan for the regulation of access to cannabis for medical purposes, which is presently being determined as part of the Government’s commitment to legalize, strictly regulate and restrict access to marijuana.
From the Fact Sheet (see Related below)
Do the regulations allow storefront operations?
No. Access to cannabis for medical purposes is only permitted under the terms and conditions set out in the regulations. Storefront operations selling marijuana, commonly known as “dispensaries” and “compassion clubs” are not authorized to sell cannabis for medical or any other purposes. These operations are illegally supplied, and provide products that are unregulated and may be unsafe. Illegal storefront distribution and sale of cannabis are subject to law enforcement action. The only legal commercial source of safe, quality-controlled cannabis for medical purposes in Canada is through purchase directly from one of the 34 producers licenced by Health Canada.
Related
- Information Bulletin: Safety and Security Considerations When Producing Cannabis for Your Own Medical Purposes
- Fact Sheet: Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations
- Understanding the New Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations
- List of Authorized Licensed Marijuana producers
- 642 Cannabis, third pot shop opens in Sooke
- Sooke’s second pot shop opens its doors for business
- Sooke Medijuana Dispensary
Terrible news… That way the government can control and alter plant materials
Looks like they crunched the numbers… and yup, factory pharma is more profitable once again!
Dispensaries ALWAYS were illegal! Anticipation of government to legalize medical marijuana, doesn’t make it legal and certainly doesn’t allow opening up pot shops everywhere. That is just organized crime operating up in the open!
Stupidity
That’s JT for ya
Lmao JT is all for the garbage. How about reality?
Wtf
Chantal Sutherland
Its such a shame these are illegal such a beautiful thing for Sooke to have 😛
Seriously….. I wish they would just legalise so we can all benefit from the profits it will bring, and the cops will stop wasting their time policing it so much and send more time on more important things.
Don’t hold your breath.
Goddamn criminals…and I DON’T MEAN the dispensaries either!
Opened right up for a charter argument…
LOL it’s sooke Hahahaha it grows like Corn on the cob there
Justin lied,all his talk about legalization was to get himself elected .
ya think?
And still so many haven’t figured that out yet.
So.. New federal regs deem marijuana dispensaries illegal in a country that is soon to legalise marijuana. You couldn’t make this stuff up!
I’m shocked anyone believed Trudeau was actually going to do it.
ummmm. hes already got it set to be legalized next spring? dont you read the news?..lol
ridiculous.
Carly Crimson
Sean Malcolm look what your pride buddy did.
It’s always been illegal so this wasn’t JT’s fault. Give it time and he will keep his promise
LOL!!!!
Wow looks like JT is not keeping one of his main campaign promises. These politicians will say anything to get elected. 🙁
He promised to legalize it. It isn’t legal yet. They’re working on it but it but it isn’t law yet. This is probably a final crackdown on weed before the Government regulates it.
Will JT pardon everyone arrested now when he does legalize it? Will their records be expunged?
OMG…a Politician saying crap to elected? Say it isn’t so……LMFAO.
How about finding a hobby instead of escaping reality toking up?? Face you day as it is!
Hobby like drinking? Haha
And yet the very same government will continue to use my hard earned tax dollars to make sure all the crackheads and meth users have access to their drugs….for FREE…as well as places to do them….but people can’t go into a store…which has its products out of site and you have to be of age to enter…and purchase pot which is a hell of a lot less harmless than crack or meth…really?
Need to get your shit together there government peeps….pot is natural and comes from the earth…crack, meth etc have to be MADE with chemicals….don’t know about you but I’ll take the all natural any day 🙂
What in the actual fuck ?
Nonsense
This is no longer about legalization. This is about corporate profit and nothing else. This is about the govt protecting existing LPs while shutting everyone else out of a billion dollar industry. Civil disobedience is soon to follow.
oh, here we go again. it’s who you know (or pay off).
I’m not a pot head, so I’m good with it either way
If it is for “medical” purposes it should be sold through a pharmacy
That’s what I’ve said all along. No one has given me a good reason why that can’t be the case.
Are u all brain dead. Dispensaries have been shut down countless times all around the island and most other places. Why did anyone think it would be differnent in Sooke
Like hmmm all dispenseries were shut down in naniamo and some people were charged. 4 months later there is one in sooke. Like REALLY who didnt see this coming
The government does mot like what they can’t control…cigarettes they say cause cancer..drinking kills your liver, makes some go crazy, drink and drive can kill. But funny how much money the government makes on both of its sales. Never heard of anyone smoking a joint and wiping out a family in a car wreck or beating there spouse or kids..I have just started using cannabis and it’s working way better than any prescribed chemical drug…who agrees
And dope has many side effects as well. Including under the influence driving. Not any different then drunk driving
Everything is chemicals. The apples you eat are chemicals, so is a dog, your desk, the grass, the air, your phone, and everything that you eat. Your body is made of chemicals. Chemicals are not all bad. Medical cannabis is a chemical drug. Glad you are feeling better with using cannabis. #legalizeit
Sherry Thompson …I believe the natural chemicals are called biochemicals.
Its those lab based chemicals that kills bugs, as well as us.
The last ting you want are the Pharmaceutical companies to manage this. You will be charged an arm and a leg. One Cancer Drug is 6000.00 a month, think of what you would pay for this
It’s not going to stop the people who are selling it now it will make drug dealers richer
Before the” dispensories ” half or more of the country was able to find or grow pot. Stupid rules won’ t change anything , along with policeing, court and prison costs out of all canadiens pockets.
Good shut them down. We have enough illegal junkies on the streets already. Find an honest paying job instead of this trash
Ironically, we (U.S.) just had similar legislation deeming marijuana a Schedule I substance. Citing, marijuana has 0 medical properties and is a highly addictive potentially lethal substance. Coincidence!? Doubtful.
if we ALL start growing we WILL OVER GROW the GOV!!!!! just sayin
#couldvehadorangecrush
just b.s.
I can go on a roller coaster, smoke cigarettes or pipes, drink a bottle of tequila, get tattooed and pierced all over myself, put a vibrating plug up my butt while throwing axes at watermelons in my back yard, I can ride a motorcycle around a track at high speeds, hell I can go on the computer and watch people do pretty much any weird, disgusting, dangerous things I can think of. What is the great harm done to society if I get some pain or stress relief smoking a joint, if I rub some pot oil on my arthritic hands, if I eat a cookie with pot in it because I think it helps. Phil
the government says they are afraid you Might get..the Munchies which is a deadly disease and NO known cure..and they cannot Bill Ohip lol
Rusty Arthur Simpson thank you so much for clearing that up for me, I thought it was just some politicians trying to criminalize something for no other reason but that they consider it taboo. This while have the option to do so many silly, twisted, risky, or bizarre things and not be labeled a criminal. Phil
Just stupid!
The gov is there to protect us from unregulated cannabis…it won’t allow any of their approved producers to put chemicals or preservatives in something we ingest.
Hey !!! Wait a minute, what am I saying, they’re already poisoning us with GMO’S chemtrails fluoride and vaccines !
I think this distinction on who should be allowed to use a medicinal herb is prime real estate for a courtroom showdown.
I can’t believe people are allowing the gov to draw that line in the first place, following the disclosure of study’s demonstrating the medicinal application of the herb, once mislabeled as a drug.