Marihuana For Medical Purposes Regulations Event - Speaking Notes - the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq Minister of Health

June 10, 2013
Ottawa, ON

Check Against Delivery

Good morning.

I would like to begin by thanking Fire Chief John de Hooge for joining me today and for hosting this event here at Station 57. I also want to thank my colleagues Dr. Carrie and Mr. Kamp for also taking time from their busy schedules to join us.

For over a decade, the Government of Canada has fulfilled its legal obligation to provide reasonable access to a legal source of marihuana for medical purposes to people who require it to treat serious illnesses.

In 2002, fewer than 500 people were granted licences to possess marihuana for such medical purposes. Today, more than 30,000 Canadians are authorized to possess dried marihuana through Health Canada's Marihuana Medical Access Program.

The program has grown rapidly in the past 12 years - and this has created significant challenges.

Patients, law enforcement, fire officials, physicians and municipalities have all voiced concerns with how the program is run.

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.

The cost to taxpayers has also shot up, and most Canadians probably don't realize they heavily subsidize the price of marihuana for medical purposes.

These are some of the reasons why in June 2011 our Government launched a consultation process to help reshape Canada's medical marihuana program. 

Today, I am here to talk about next steps.

I'm pleased to announce that the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations will be published in Canada Gazette, Part II, on June 19th.

From a patient's perspective, under the new regulations Canadians who require marihuana for medical purposes will have access to quality-controlled dried marihuana produced by approved, licensed producers.

Under the new regime, people will be able to buy marihuana for medical purposes from the licensed producer of their choice. They will continue to consult with their physicians, but no longer have to apply to Health Canada to access marihuana for medical purposes.

From a safety perspective, home production of marihuana will no longer be allowed. Only licensed producers that meet strict security requirements will obtain a licence from Health Canada to produce marihuana for medical purposes.

Licensed producers will need to inform local authorities and abide by all applicable zoning and other laws and regulations.

To ensure that people who need marihuana for medical purposes continue to access it while the new system ramps up, the current program and the new Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations will both operate until March 31, 2014.

After March 31, 2014, home production will not be allowed and Health Canada will no longer produce and distribute marihuana for medical purposes, meaning taxpayers will no longer be subsidizing the sale of marihuana for medical purposes.

Our goal with this new approach is straightforward: to balance the needs of seriously ill Canadians with public health, security and safety concerns.

I believe these new regulations will do just that.

Our Government listened to the concerns of Canadians about the shortcomings of the current program.

We listened and we responded.

I'd now like to turn it over to Chief de Hooge who will say a few words.

Thank you.