MEDICINAL MARIJUANA POLICY NEEDS REVIEW

Dear Mr. Gord Brown,

I would appreciate a personal response to my letter sent August 11. I
understand you are part of the Conservative government and I believe
the root of the problem with Health Canada's MMAD program is your
government not approving of medical marijuana, so therefore
underfunding the program.

There are not enough employees working at Health Canada's MMAD office,
which creates delays in giving "Authorized To Possess (marijuana)"
licenses.

The problem is great. I read it in many newspaper articles that many
Canadian patients are suffering and waiting needlessly to receive the
right to use medical cannabis.

The MMAD program should only be a process in which Health Canada
issues the ATP licenses, just like a driver's licence or a passport or
medicare cards.

Health Canada should not have to approve every application when a
doctor has signed the forms and approves of the therapy of cannabis.
Why is Health Canada creating chaos for so many sick Canadians?

I would like to see the scientific research done on wine therapy. I'd
also like to know why your government cut the funding on medical
marijuana research in 2004. It's been proven during the past few years
that cannabis heals cancer. Why isn't our government jumping on that
kind of research?

Why not just end the prohibition of cannabis, just like when our
government ended alcohol prohibition? It sure put a dent in organized
crime and the same would happen with decriminalizing cannabis.

I cannot go a day without having an ATP license or else could possibly
face criminal charges against myself. Please take this issue seriously.

Priscilla Lavell

Toledo