Holiday Gift from Health Canada: A Shiny New Cannabis Industry

TORONTO, Dec. 16, 2012 /CNW/ - On Friday Dec 14, 2012, Health Canada has released its much-consulted and much-awaited regulations dubbed the MMPR - the Medical Marihuana (sic) Production Regulations. CALM and its advisers have reviewed the new regulations which address some shortcomings but not others, like affordability.

"These Regulations signal the emergence of a new industry! Health Canada has been purposefully dodging the regulating of a robust and thriving trade for years," says Neev, owner of CALM, Toronto's first medical cannabis dispensary. "These changes are a step forward. Removing the dysfunctional monopoly is good for all stakeholders nationwide - especially the taxpayer.  Hundreds if not thousands of legal opportunities and jobs have been created almost overnight."

Some changes include

• mandatory record keeping, labeling, and analysis
• cannabis does not require irradiation, like some food products
• physicians are still reluctant gatekeepers of the new MMPR
• cannabis can be imported and exported
• derivatives and edibles are still not recognized (illegal)
• cost to the patient/end user will stay the same or increase by as much as 15% or higher
• physicians and pharmacists can be authorized cannabis sellers
• regulations spell the end of personal and designated production

"It appears that Health Canada has listened to some of the suggestions of the Canadian Association of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries (CAMCD)," says Neev, founding Director. "There are still improvements to be made, but these new Regulations open the floodgates to a large and experienced population who want to produce and consume medical cannabis.  Medical Cannabis and CALM will be open for business - legally!"

The regulations come into effect when Canada Gazette 2 publishes the regulations for the final time, expected to be in April 2013.

CALM is Toronto's first medical cannabis facility established in 1996 with almost 4,000 members nationwide. Neev is a proud founding director of CAMCD. 50% of Canadians with licenses to possess cannabis access dispensaries like CALM across Canada.

CAMCD is a not-for-profit corporation established to promote a regulated, community-based approach to medical cannabis access, and to support dispensaries in the provision of high quality patient care across Canada.

SOURCE: CALM

Neev 416-367-3459
Rade Kovacevic - 519-780-7830 - CAMCD President and Spokesperson
Adam Greenblatt - 514-830-1331 - CAMCD Director French Communications
Law Professor Alan Young - 416-736-5595