Speaking Notes for the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq Minister of Health - Marihuana for Medical Purposes Announcement

Sunday, December 16, 2012
Maple Ridge, BC

Good afternoon,

I would like to begin by thanking Chief Constable Jim Chu of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and Fire Chief Stephen Gamble from the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs for joining me today for this important announcement.

For the past decade, the Government of Canada has fulfilled its legal obligation to provide people who suffer from grave and debilitating illnesses with reasonable access to marihuana for medical purposes.

In 2002, fewer than 500 people were granted licences to possess marihuana for such purposes. Today, more than 26,000 Canadians are authorized to possess or grow marihuana through Health Canada's Marihuana Medical Access Program.

The program has grown rapidly in the past 10 years - and this has created significant challenges.

Canadians who participate in the current program have voiced concerns with how it's run, as have police and law enforcement, fire officials, physicians, and municipalities.

The current practice of allowing individuals to produce marihuana in their homes has given rise to public health, safety and security concerns.

The high value of marihuana on the illicit market increases the risks of home invasion and diversion to be sold on the street. And these production operations can also present fire and toxic mould hazards.

Furthermore, as the program has grown, so too has the cost to Canadian taxpayers. It has become unsustainable.

Today, our Government is announcing proposed changes to the way Canadians obtain marihuana for medical purposes.

A new approach is being recommended through the proposed Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations that will balance the needs of program participants with public health, security and safety concerns.

This means home production of marihuana will be phased out. Under our new rules, only facilities that meet strict security requirements will be able to produce marihuana for medical purposes. And because it will no longer be produced in homes, this may make it easier for local municipalities to pass zoning by-laws, for example, requiring any commercial production to take place outside of residential neighbourhoods.

Once a commercial industry of licensed producers has been established, Health Canada will no longer produce and distribute marihuana for medical purposes. This means that taxpayers will no longer be subsidizing the sale of medical marihuana.

In addition to public safety concerns, we have heard from patients who have concerns about the red tape interfering with their care.

Under the new program, individuals will be able to choose which licensed producer they will buy from based on strain, price, quality, and customer service. They will no longer apply to Health Canada for marihuana for medical purposes.

This is an outline of our proposed changes that we plan to have in place by March 31, 2013, but these will undergo one final round of feedback. Canadians are welcome to provide feedback on the proposed changes I'm announcing today by visiting Health Canada's website.

Our Government has listened to the concerns of public health professionals, law enforcement, program participants and other Canadians about the shortcomings of the current Marihuana Medical Access Program - and we have responded

I'm confident that the direction we're moving in is the right one.

Thank you.