Medical Marijuana Costs Covered.

Man awarded $30,000 for medical marijuana costs

By Ian Mulgrew, Vancouver Sun June 22, 2011

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/health/awarded+medical+marijuana+costs/4985306/story.html#ixzz1Q1yPmNhf

Sask Gardeners on the Grow!

According to a recently published article in the Regina Leader Post, police suspect that citizens are abusing the medical marijuana licensing program by using it to produce marijuana and selling it on the black market. The police are concerned that people with criminal records are obtaining these licenses and that it is encouraging the criminal behavior to repeat.

To obtain a license to grow marijuana however, a criminal record check is mandatory unless you are growing the marijuana for yourself.

Many criminal charges root from marijuana possession or trafficking, but it is often the result of not obtaining the license in due time.

For example, citizens who suffer from severe back pain often use marijuana for years before they are even aware that they can be using the herb legally. This means years of illegally purchasing and possessing it for a completely legitimate reason. Many of these people weren’t be lucky enough to get through those years without at least one confrontation with police, often leading to a drug conviction. One possession charge can redirect the path of their life dramatically, be it through lost job opportunities or traveling opportunities. It also prevents them from legally growing marijuana for at least 10 years, even for a fellow citizen who has been prescribed it.

When someone gets sick, their right to good health should not be jeopardized by past drug convictions. If they have been prescribed marijuana by their physician, they should also have the right to produce their own medicine, despite potential past history of possessing what may now be considered their medicine.

When someone is looking to be a designated grower, but has countless drug trafficking charges and convictions, it seems the license could be a “home-free” card to continue the illegal trade. These people however, are denied the ability to grow for someone else for at least 10 years after the last drug charge because the likelihood of repeating black market trade is high, especially because they don’t personally need the product they are growing. The mandatory criminal record check is then exercised and unless these citizens are growing for themselves, they are in a “10-year time-out” of the marijuana grow game.

With every government program, there are bound to be people who abuse it. There ability to abuse it is reflected by the structure of the program. Because the medical marijuana program is a grey area in itself, many are tempted to push the boundaries. Marijuana is sought out on the black market and in the medical community, drawing a fine line between it being legal and illegal. This makes it very difficult to control or distinguish who can legally possess it and who can’t , and the constant demand from the medical community and the black market makes distribution almost effortless for those seeking to sell.

The drug laws revolving around marijuana has torn up many families, friends and even communities through break and entries, house raids, drug charges, arrests and prison sentences.  The herb itself has proven to have medical benefits for countless conditions and has never directly killed anyone. Despite the concern of illegal distribution by those abusing the medical marijuana program, the potential that the herb has to harm most people is very small, and is without a doubt far less harmful than legal products sold everyday across the country such as alcohol and cigarettes, which appear to have little to no medical benefits at all.

Despite concern for citizens abusing the medical marijuana program, the harm rooted from this theory remains minute. Designated growers must be free of drug related charges for at least 10 years before they acquire their license and someone growing for their own quality of life has that human right.

Law enforcement would undoubtedly benefit from educating citizens while they are young in regards to marijuana use and the medical marijuana program to prevent unnecessary drug charges from happening in the first place. Those with interest in growing would be given the proper avenues to do it legally and legitimately, providing medical users an avenue for acquiring safe access to legal cannabis.

The medical marijuana program has potential to discourage criminal activity by allowing people to legally grow marijuana and others to legitimately possess and use it. It encourages people to get legal with their medications and is overall a very positive thing for our country.

Focusing on the few citizens who may abuse the program and blaming the program is like focusing on the crooked policeman for abusing his power and blaming it on the police force as a whole. One rotten apple does not mean the apple tree is a  bad thing, but instead perhaps that the bad apples sometimes get mixed up in the bunch and need to be filtered out with time.

The program as a whole, helps citizens improve their quality of life. The potential for criminal activity is through the result of the mixing of the legal and illegal aspects of marijuana.

Instead of re-considering the program’s role in supporting black market trade, perhaps marijuana’s role in our drug laws and society could be reconsidered, as the re-scheduling of it could potentially benefit more citizens than it’s classification currently does.

It is time to recognize the black market trades as symptoms of a bigger problem and to begin treating the real roots of the problems, instead of these symptoms.

Read Full Story

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Head 2 Head Novelties in Regina Saskatchewan has started 2011 fully ‘stalked’ and ready for the growth that has proven to be the theme of the year.  The expansion has proven to make for a much more comfortable atmosphere as people flood into the shop in groups and stay to check out the progress. The plant growing in the middle of the showroom sparks curiosity in most and the constant rotation of glass keeps the word of mouth about the shop in high gear.

The number of marijuana applications distributed, filled out and sent to Health Canada is record setting not only within the government program, but within the Helping Saskatchewan Grow movement. Although the average number of mailed applications was approximately 1-2 applications a month in previous years, the shop now averages an application every couple of days. Doctors’ support for the marihuana program is sharply increasing, making for an easier process for future clients. The number and variety of medical specialists signing and conditions they are signing for is also increasing. B2 Applications are becoming more popular with symptoms and conditions varying from muscle pain to trouble sleeping, obsessive compulsive disorder to migraines.

Renovations are scheduled to continue throughout the year. The back room is looking beautiful with the recent improvements and is now open to clients for meetings. This is a great place for discussing ideas for positive changes in our medical communities and sustainable living arrangements for generations to come.

Thoughts- Words- Actions.

The front of the shop doubled in size last year and is scheduled for another face lift this spring. Improvements will continue throughout the summer months.

The glass selection is constantly on the grow as new talented glass blowers are getting more directly involved. There is a huge variety of styles of glass art filling the displays and heady pieces are going as quickly as they come.  The shop’s loaded up with beautiful pieces. Shipments from Puff(BC), and Shine Glass(MB) have recently arrived and are proving popular as ever.

Days are getting longer and spring has nearly arrived. There’s nothing like sitting back and relaxing in the sun rays of the warming weather,  and it’s clear that prairie folk are ready to celebrate longer days with enthusiasm and of course, their favorite herb.

The lady growing in the showroom is a Mr. Nice Guy x Blueberry and has a few weeks left to go before it is time to harvest her. Her potent smelling flowers are a constant reminder to those of us who have beared through the winter, that blooms are on the way.

Head 2 Head is proud to be a part of this revolution and Canada’s Marijuana Headquarters. Although people may enter the shop as a customer, they often leave as a friend and an inspired revolutionary looking to make a positive change. The war on drugs will never outlast the dedication of truth and positive relationships that result from the marijuana culture and 2011 will hopefully be the final chapter for the senseless war on drugs.

Head 2 Head welcomes everyone to come be a part of the change in 2011!

Come check out HeadShopCanadas Headquarters:

Head2Head Novelties @ 2923 Dewdney Ave. in  Regina, Saskatchewan.

Mon-Fri  11am-7pm

Sat  11am-5pm

Sun Closed- Rest Up!

There have been an abundance of legal marijuana grow operations robbed across Canada. Three robberies have taken place in the last six months in BC alone. Break and Entries are including black market  invasions with weapons and materials for tying up. This is scary news for both legal and illegal marijuana users and growers across the country.

Despite the legal side of marijuana (medical use), the black market aspects of it keep it’s demand high and people are willing to go to drastic measures to acquire it. Because it is worth so much on the black market (selling up to $600/oz.), even the legal growers are put in danger. The demand for marijuana and the extent people are willing to go to acquire it is a direct result of marijuana being an illegal substance. Similar to alcohol prohibition, the demand only increases as laws become harsher as does the violence and danger involved with the substance.

There must be something done to protect the people from the harms of the drug war.

Because the legal differences between medical marijuana and illegal marijuana are simply where it is located and who is in possession of it, it’s very difficult to separate the dangers of the black market from legal users and growers.

Marijuana is a part of both the medical community and the black market, tying in the middle of two very different worlds.

The black market world involves illegal drug trade and cartels, violence, weapons, secrets, home invasions, and an abundance of far more harmful drugs.

The medical world of marijuana is supposed to involve comfort, treatment, healing, relaxation and safe medication. Prescriptions are supposed to be easy to acquire when they are needed, and easy to access without the risk of theft, violence or danger.

The governments attempt to control marijuana- a plant that grows naturally and benefits countless Canadians is resulting in violence and crime. The solution suggested by the government presents harsher sentences for marijuana users without a license, despite the record breaking increases in licenses being distributed. As marijuana is being more intensively researched, it’s potential in the medical fields is becoming more apparent as it is being used to successfully treat more conditions than any other medication available. It is also the most harmless illegal substance in our history.

Marijuana in the black market= Violence situations revolving around a harmless plant, weapons, and increased danger to those in possession of it.

Marijuana in the hands of the people= It would be treated more like a vitamin supplement or a healthy plant/root (ex. ginger)- beneficial for many ailments, but acquiring it is neither illegal or dangerous. People can grow it in their own homes without the risk of break and entries and citizens could exchange their different strains peacefully. The demand decreases with the availability of it and thus the violence and dangers surrounding it diminish.

Marijuana has never in history killed anyone, but the prohibition of it has killed thousands.

The Break and Entries targeting marijuana are only a symptom of the bigger problem- Drug laws involving an otherwise harmless substance- marijuana.

Keeping marijuana illegal ties it in with other illegal trades that involve guns, weapons and violence.

Time for change.

Read Full Story

This is a fabulous documentary regarding the therapeutic uses of cannabis. Full of very useful facts about endo-cannabinoids , including how prominently they are found throughout the human body and brain.

Many interesting perspectives on the history of cannabis and ideas as to why the laws are set up in their current way. This is a must see for anyone who is interested in keeping educated with marijuana’s role in  our society.

Watch Video

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A man in Bedford Nova Scotia is facing charges after 375 plants were seized from an auto repair shop located in the industrial area.

Because of the size and sophistication of the grow-op, it was considered likely that there were several criminal components involved.

Electricity was being stolen and was not hooked up to safety code, making for very hazardous electrical wiring, putting the building and surrounding area in increased danger of fire.

His court date is scheduled for May.

Although the grow location was secured by police Saturday night, investigators did not take an inventory of the drugs until Sunday morning for what they said were safety reasons.

See Full Story

Marijuana can be grown legally and safely. It has been used to treat a variety of symptoms and conditions.

Learn More:

MJ- How To Apply

How To Get Legal (Video)

If people aren’t getting busted for marijuana, they are getting busted for the sale of other chemicals that mimick its effects. Many of these chemicals are banned by the FDA and the short term and long term effects are unknown, making them potentially far more dangerous than this plant that has never killed anyone.

It seems that nothing stops the demand for the effects of marijuana. Laws and regulations regarding the plant have however, resulted in people experimenting with other synthetic chemical-herbal mixes that give similar effects . Seven Calgary stores have recently been raided for selling products made up of a chemical-herbal mix that mimic the effects of marijuana. This “synthetic marijuana” as they are calling  is made up of many chemicals none of which are found in the marijuana plant. The effects of these chemicals could be far more harmful and so to refer to it as “synthetic marijuana” is very misleading to citizens.

The problem now is that the demand for the effects of marijuana are overriding the availability of the herb. People are indulging in foreign chemicals and substances to feel the desired effects of what was once a harmless plant. By referring to these chemical-herbal mixes as synthetic marijuana, people could start linking harmful or undesired side effects to marijuana despite the lack of connection between the two.

A plant that has helped millions more people than it has ever hurt (Deaths from Marijuana=0) should not be tied into the black market, encouraging criminal activity by supporting it in any way, shape or form. However, with today’s laws, even sane citizens are forced to incriminate themselves to maintain their quality of life. For example,  any sane person diagnosed with glaucoma that knew marijuana could slow the degeneration rate of their eyesight would undoubtedly break the law to keep their eyesight. A sane person with epilepsy would undoubtedly break the law to discourage what could be a deadly seizure and a sane HIV patient would undoubtedly break the law to treat their nausea for survival.

Marijuana use has benefited and saved millions of lives and has no history of ever killing anyone. It remains classified as a schedule 2 drug however, and is therefore tied into the black market making for a far more dangerous atmosphere surrounding it.

In 2011 the rights to a good quality of life continue to be held just out of reach of the citizens.

It seems wrong to force citizens across our country into the black market for access to an herb that betters their quality of life. The arbitrary process involved with accessing marijuana legally not only discourages legitimate users but causes scrutiny for those trying to renew their grow and possession licenses. Unnecessary delays in paperwork result in house raids, ruined medicine and the risk of criminal charges, incarceration or taking the risk of going unmedicated despite the success and safety of its treatment.  It is time for change.

Drug laws are not decreasing the demand for the effects of marijuana but may be encouraging people to create more substances that give similar effects. The effects of the synthetic versions however, have not had the tests of time that marijuana has over the thousands of years of recorded use. Marijuana has never killed anyone in our history. However, the chemical-herbal mixes have only recently been mixed and matched together and because there is not information documented on these products, the short-term and long-term effects on human are unknown.

Drug laws are not discouraging the demand for the effects of marijuana. They may be however, encouraging more dangerous routes of acquiring those effects.

It may be time to reconsider the effects of these laws.

Read Full Story on Calgary Busts

Do citizens have to go unmedicated and untreated to avoid becoming criminals in our country?

An outstanding Canadian citizen was put through scrutiny to ensure the legality of his medication- medical marijuana.

Robin Hove, a Regina resident recently awarded the Chief Commendation Award for saving a man from a machete attack, has been put through a scrutinizing process in an attempt to stay within the legal aspects of his medication. The grey areas and extensive delays in Health Canada’s Medical Marihuana Access Program are resulting in stressful, tedious situations for thousands of citizens seeking a natural medication.

Robin Hove came across Medical Marihuana after it was recommended to him by a friend.  Rob lives with PTSD (Post traumatic Stress Disorder) from a work related incident and at this time he was also suffering from countless undesired side effects from medications he was prescribed to treat the condition. Because of the severity of the condition and the side effects, years passed with Rob rarely leaving his home. He was very skeptical about everything, including medical marihuana.  However, once he tried this natural remedy his opinion changed as his life began to improve. Marihuana has since replaced 12 of Rob’s other medications and continues to astonish his doctors.

The stress and difficulties of Robs treatment are no longer found in any undesired side effects. Instead they are found in the difficulty of acquiring medical coverage (ex. Workers’ Compensation Board) due to marijuana being a schedule 1 drug and in the delays within the program that potentially jeopardize the legal aspects of Robs medication and thus his quality of life.

Health Canada recommends mailing the renewal forms 8 weeks in advance to allow proper processing time. Robin Hove has had his license for medical marihuana since November 2009.When renewal time came in 2010, Rob mailed his renewal forms 12 weeks early to ensure his crops would be safe from criminal consequence and that he could continue his treatment legally. Horror stories of DEA raids in medical grow operations only days after their licenses expired urged Rob to be extra punctual in mailing his paperwork. His punctuality however, seemed be of no help in his license being processed on time. A week before his license expired, Rob had still heard nothing regarding it.

Rob called Health Canada everyday and received only answering machines guaranteeing call backs that never happened. When Rob did finally get to speak to someone at Health Canada(Drugs Strategies Division) he expressed his concern about the paperwork and the legalities of his medication and grow location. The reply was both surprising and shocking for him. Rob was not re assured that the paperwork would be filed on time nor that he would have any legal security in his form of medication. Instead, Rob was instructed by Health Canada’s Drug Strategies Division to simply be ‘discreet’ about his medical marihuana use and grow operation until they caught up on their processing time.

Rob felt as though this was another way of instructing him to incriminate himself and hope for the best.

November 2, 2010 Robin Hove entered the Regina Police Headquarters with a unique request. His license was about to expire, but he still had enough homegrown medical marihuana for another month’s prescription. He hadn’t yet received his paperwork and decided against incriminating himself by possessing his herbs without proper paperwork on hand. He didn’t want any scrutiny from the police nor did he want to throw out his top quality medicine that he’d already harvested and decided to risk the effects of going unmedicated or medicated differently. As he explained his request, the police officers assisting him showed no hesitation in storing his medical marijuana while he waited on Health Canada.

Rob suffered from severe pain, muscle spasms, insomnia, anxiety, depression and nausea while waiting. He lost so much weight in fact, that he has recently been instructed that he must gain at least 15lbs or more durastic measures will have to be taken to ensure that he does. Everyday seemed like years, and his quality of life temporarily plummeted. Day after day, the waiting game continued.

It wasn’t until 4 weeks after his license expired that most of his paperwork finally arrived-everything but the hard copy license, making him legal but forcing him to carry an oversized paper around in the meantime to prove it.

Rob picked up his medical marihuana from the Police Station, relieved to finally have his legal papers. He’d lost a lot of weight and suffered through what seemed like endless nights, solely due to the arbitrary process that results from Canadian drug laws and unnecessary delays in the program provided.

This is happening across the country.  Many citizens are being forced to choose between discreetly incriminating themselves to continue their doctor’s prescribed medication or risking going unmedicated with the effects being as extreme as death to stay legal due to today’s drug laws and processing delays in the program.

Despite the success in Robs treatment with marihuana, his doctors support, his punctuality in regards to mailing his renewal forms and his contributions to society since treatment began (Chief Commendation Award), this Canadian citizen is being  forced to choose between his  health and abiding by a law that  hinders his quality of life.

Canadian drug laws as they currently stand are not updated with medical research and programs of today. Situations like Robs make it apparent that change is long past due and becoming more urgent everyday.

Marihuana’s classification as a schedule 2 drug is resulting in these situations.

This is a huge problem that is resulting is citizens suffering with their health and quality of life. As Canadians it is our responsibility to ensure that we are all taken care of- and so to avoid these horrible situation replaying as they have been for years, we must reanalyze our current drug laws to ensure they are truly protecting the people, and not jeopardizing their quality of life.

MJ Forms How to Apply

Get your license(Video)

Read more about Rob’s story @ SaskatchewanCruelty.com

Rob & WCB

Rob awarded by Regina Police