Medical Marijuana Program History

Cannabis has been used for centuries to treat various ailments. The ancients used marijuana as a common medicinal plant. Even though technology has made it part of our everyday lives, marijuana CBD Oil UK was still considered a viable treatment option for many conditions. In 1923, the Canadian government banned marijuana. Although marijuana cigarettes were confiscated nine years after the law was passed in 1932 it took 14 more years before the first marijuana possession case was filed against an individual.

CBD For Calming

1961 was the year of the signature by the United Nations of an international treaty, the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs was signed in 1961. This created the four Schedules for controlled drugs. Officially, marijuana is now controlled internationally as Schedule IV (most restrictive).

A treaty requires that member countries create agencies to manage cultivation. All activities related to a Schedule drug must be criminalized. This includes cultivation, preparation, delivery, and exportation. Canada signed the treaty in its capacity as Health Canada’s government agency.

Many people have tried to eliminate marijuana from schedule IV, or all of the schedules, because of its medical use. Any modification to the 1961 Convention would need a majority vote of the members of the Commissions.

Canada’s Changing Medicinal Marijuana Laws

The Convention’s language seems to be clear. Nations must treat marijuana as a Schedule-4 drug and penalize those who break it. Many articles of the treaty allow medical and scientific use. In 1998, the Cannabis Control Policy: A Discussion Paper published. The Cannabis Control Policy was a summary of Canada’s obligations. It was published by the Department of National Health and Welfare (DNHW) in 1979.

“In summary, Canada is not required to make certain cannabis-related offenses punishable by international drug conventions. These obligations are only applicable to illegal trafficking behavior. Canada can continue to criminalize consumption-oriented behaviour, but international drug conventions do not require it to convict or punish those who have.

Administrative and distribution controls are responsible for limiting cannabis possession to legal medical and scientific uses. While it may not require Canada to confiscate or authorize cannabis possession, Canada is not required to criminally prosecute such possession.

Scientifically, medical marijuana was still being researched. In August 1997, the Institute of Medicine began a review to evaluate scientific evidence of cannabis. The 1999 report was published.

Data suggests that cannabinoid medications may be therapeutic, particularly for nausea control and pain relief. THC is the most common cannabinoid found in marijuana.

Health Canada created the Medical Marijuana Research Program in 1999. Slowly, Canada began to make changes in its laws regarding medicinal cannabis.

78% of respondents support medicinal marijuana use in an April 1999 survey. -May 10, 2015 – Jim Wakeford, an AIDS patient is granted an interim constitutional exemption from cultivation and possession. May 25, 2015 – House of Commons approves the amended medicinal marijuana motion. “The government must immediately take steps to legalize medical marijuana, including… clinical trials and the appropriate guidelines. Also, access to a safe supply of medical marijuana.
June 9, 2009 – Health Minister Announces the Clinical Trials Program. Individuals who apply for Health Canada are exempt from criminal prosecution
On October 6, 14 more people will be granted special exemptions to the prohibition on marijuana use for medical purposes.
September 2000 – Federal Minister of Health announces that medicinal cannabis will be grown by the government and federal regulations will be in place
January 2001 – Ontario Court declares the law against medicinal marijuana cultivation unconstitutional
April 2001 – Health Canada proposes tight regulation of access to medicinal marijuana
August 2001 – Health Canada MMARs, Marijuana Access Regulations, enter into force; Canada becomes the first country that allows legal medicinal marijuana possession

The climb for many with chronic and terminal diseases has been steady since 2001. One year after medical marijuana was legalized, the Canadian Senate began pushing for MMAR reform. Others advocated legalization of cannabis, but not the need to grow it. Many MS patients were unable to or unwilling to grow cannabis because of their poor health.

In 2003, the MMAR was modified by the Ontario Court of Appeal. One change was to permit reasonable access through licensed providers of legal cannabis supplies.

Over the past seven years, scientists have investigated the possibility of medicinal marijuana being used to treat various diseases. Cannabinoids could be used to treat certain diseases previously considered incurable. Research has shown that medicinal marijuana can be used to treat multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s disease.

Leave a comment

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started