LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER

Medical Marijuana

CORNWALL - Rodney Primeau is in pain so bad, that some days he has to
stay in bed.

In 2003, Primeau was told he had spinal stenosis. Although he has had
an operation, the deteriorating disk means he will always be in pain.
And it will get worse, he said.

To combat the onslaught of pain, Primeau has tried Oxycontin and
Percocet, but he hasn't enjoyed the side effects that have left him
feeling "like a zombie," unable to help take care of his children to
the best of his ability.

"I needed to be on a playing field where I was not in pain but I
could still function for my kids," Primeau said.

Primeau has turned to marijuana for pain relief, and he has found
that it works better than the prescription painkillers he has
used but the costs are adding pain to his pocketbook.

Marijuana does not have the same insurance coverage as prescription
painkillers, even when recommended by a doctor for medicinal use.

Primeau has applied for a license to possess marijuana for medical
purposes under the Marijuana Medical Access (MMA) Regulations, which
were introduced 10 years ago. This license included a signature from
a doctor attesting to his need to use marijuana.

But Primeau says the government-sold medicinal marijuana is more
costly than he can afford, and is cheaper on the streets.

Primeau is allowed to smoke five grams a day. To buy that supply from
the government would cost him $847.50 a month, but Primeau says it
costs about half the amount to buy it on the streets at a higher
THC level, too.

"How do I afford what the government wants to charge me?" he asked.

Primeau says the government-sold marijuana isn't as effective due to
its low THC level, so he has applied to grow his own supply via a
designated grower, based in Cornwall, who is already licensed to grow
his own marijuana for medicinal purposes.

The light bulbs alone have cost him almost $750, and that was all he
could afford at the moment.

While Primeau was easily able to get Oxycontin and Percocet from his
neighbourhood pharmacy and received support through his disability
coverage for this medication, he is unsure if any of his expenses for
dried marijuana, plants or other equipment will be covered.

The Ontario Disability Support Program and OHIP do not cover
marijuana or any of the associated costs, although they can be
claimed as a medical expense for tax purposes.

"It is important to note that marijuana is not an approved
therapeutic drug in Canada or in any country in the world," according
to Health Canada.

"I don't want my family to do without, but meanwhile I have to do
without (pain relief)," Primeau said.

The application for the license alone had Primeau considering the
streets for a supply, as the process took over three months to
complete. Health Canada states the process should take eight to 10 weeks.

Proposed changes to the MMA program may solve some of Primeau's
problems for others, including cutting out the wait time and
application forms for licenses. The changes will also provide more
information to physicians about the potential risks and benefits of
using marijuana for medical purposes.

Primeau is not alone in financial worry, as those qualifying for a
license to smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes must be dealing
with debilitating diseases, "for whom all other conventional
treatments have been tried or considered," according to Health Canada.

This includes patients suffering from spinal cord injury or disease,
multiple sclerosis, cancer, HIV/AIDS, or severe arthritis.

"It's to get me through my day," Primeau said. "The government says I
chose this path, but I didn't choose that. I just want to be a
productive member of society."