PRESCRIPTION THE FIRST STEP

Coming to a pharmacy near you: medicinal marijuana. Too bad only 78 people
across the country are registered with Health Canada to use the stuff.

But nonetheless, Health Canada is considering the progressive step of
making that Flin Flon, Manitoba bud available without a perscription to
registered users at local pharmacies.

Will this step prove to be a boon to increase the number of people
registered to recieve government-issued pot? It seems that registered users
have complained constantly about the quality of the pot, with one user even
calling it a "very raunchy, poor quality smoke."

A Health Canada survey estimates that seven per cent of the Canadian
population, about 290,000, illegally use marijuana to relieve their
symptoms. Getting the stuff into drug stores may not ensure that those who
need it will buy it legally from the government, especially considering the
legendary BC bud is likely grown in your neighbour's basement.

How the government struggles to grow a plant that is actually a weed, with
all the legal hydroponics needed, is hard to fathom. But perhaps we could
save the tax dollars being poured into Flin Flon and the BC resources used
to bust those illegal, albeit high quality, grow ops to come up with a
solution where pot could be grown locally and legally for medicinal
purposes. But then again, government never likes competition.

Currently, registered users are allowed to grow pot themselves or have a
representative grow it for them. If the government goes ahead with the plan
to have it available in drugstores, there is concern that eventually you
will not have the option of growing it yourself. Alas, you'll be stuck with
the weak government-issue brand.

There is also the cost issue. While charging and taxing marijuana would be
a huge source of revenue for the government-considering there are
approximately 1.5 million pot smokers in Canada-will users be willing to
pay the extra cost for something that they could easily buy under the table
from the neighbour down the street? Unlike cigarettes or even over the
counter medications, pot is something that is easily grown in one's home,
not requiring a multitude of ingredients like, say, a bottle of Tylenol Three.

The system is also subject to abuse. Could one user potentially hit up five
or six drug stores in one day, procuring not only enough pot for their
ailments but also enough for their friends? Or will pharmacies who carry it
be required to install an elaborate and expensive electronic system for
regulating customers?

On the plus side, steps toward decriminalisation has freed up police
resources to more pressing issues. About 25,000 possession charges are laid
in Canada every year. With marijuana being sold at the local drug store,
less charges would be laid. This is a great step against prohibition.
Medical studies constantly reinforce that there are minimal health risks of
marijuana use.

Additionally, marijuana made available through a pharmacy would ensure the
purity of the plant, preventing the risk of users coming into contact with
pot laced with harsher, more addictive drugs.

Hopefully one day in the future the most deliberation in this area will be
deciding between 'home-grown' or 'crown.'