On the State of Marihuana in Canada

This here is going to be my final post before I'm off to Europe on Monday (I'll keep posting from Europe though).  I recently learned about a sad piece of news about the laws in regards to the prohibition of marihuana (the flowers of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa) in Canada.  Now, I'm going to preface this by saying I am not a regular user of marihuana, in spite of the fact that it helps me greatly with my pain, even better than oxycodone does; the reason I don't is because of the other effects, such as blood shot eyes, sedation (drowsiness), obtundation (i.e. a feeling of stupidity), and loss of motor control.  Marihuana is fine on weekends, but it is far from useful on weekdays, when concentration, as well as motor skills, are paramount.  Because marihuana is a substance of great medical use, it was made legal in Canada; however, just like oxycodone and methamphetamine (also substances of medical use), it is a controlled drug.  Also just like oxycodone and methamphetamine, it is sold on street corners in violation of law, although the sale of marihuana is at least ten times more common than either of the two others, or perhaps both combined.

However, marihuana is far more strictly controlled in practice, despite having far less potential for hazardous use (zero marihuana overdosages, ever, in Canada).  There is no Canadian pharmaceutical producer of marihuana (although synthetic tetra-hydrocannabinol is sold under the name Marinol for pain).  Therefore, the Canadian government grows a small amount of hemp, but trusts the balance to private farmers and hobby growers, who are almost always individuals and not businesses.  If a patient finds himself in need of medication, his doctor is to sign a form, and a marihuana card will be issued for one year to the patient.  This is almost never (I'm one of the exceptions, as I've got a card) done, even if it is clear that the patient is in urgent need of this vital medication.

After being shot down in flames numerous times, 37-year old Torontonian Matthew Mernagh was arrested for manufacturing, and possession, of marihuana (he was growing seventy plants in his St Catharines flat and suffered from depression, seizures, fibromyalgia, and scoliosis).  He, along with 21 other patients, took his charge to the Superior Court of Ontario, and, on 13 April, Donald Taliano J. ruled in his favour, declaring the laws regarding marihuana to be 'constitutionally invalid and of no force and effect'.  He gave the Canadian government an ultimatum: either reform the laws or appeal within 90 days, or else marihuana will become, for all intents and purposes, legal.  The case was covered in all sorts of media: pro-marihuana advocacy groups (of course!), established broadsheet newspapers, and network television.

Of course, with typical Canadian efficiency (or lack thereof), the government appealed.  On 22 June, granted a stay (effectively putting the judgement on hold, as it were) until the appeal.  In exchange, the trial is to be put on the fast track---the trial is due in six months (November) as opposed to twelve.  Robert Blair J. said, about the stay, 'The practical effect of the decision if the suspension were permitted to expire on July 14 would be to legalize marijuana production in Ontario, if not across Canada, and it will invalidate many ongoing prosecutions involving commercial marijuana productions and possession offences before the appeal. While most people in the courtroom today would applaud such a result, there is much debate about this issue in this society, including about the pros and cons as to whether marijuana is a harmless but valuable therapeutic substance or whether its consumption has harmful effects that may outweigh those considerations in the absence of a controlled regime.'

This is disappointing (although Blair seems quite neutral), but what is even more disappointing is the lack of media coverage.  Only a few network television and radio stations covered the story; the rest were advocacy groups.  I don't smoke much, but I feel that people who dislike opioids (although I can't figure out why) need to have an alternative.

Why don't you get it, government people?!

On the road again... soon!

I'll be flying to Europe soon, which is both a good thing and a bad.  What I like about flying home is that I am under far less stress---no idiot teachers, no busywork, less stress.  I also like the fact that I own, together with my family, several high-performance cars; I like driving, but can't do it when I'm under too much stress.  Same for flying a helicopter---I love to fly even more than I like to drive (although it took my family a long time to convince me).  I also like the mere fact of being in Europe---I guess my roots are still firmly planted there; I like England more than Canada, and Canada more than the U.S.A.  And I like the fact that there's more things to do---hunting, gentlemen's club, snooker, cricket, fencing, actual pubs, etc.

However, the medications used in England leave a lot to be desired; sadly, it is the same for the rest of Europe.  In America, if one is having chronic pain, they go to a palliative care (basically, a clinic to make your life easier, not to cure the disease) clinic specialising in pain disorders; these clinics, for the uninformed, do not take medical insurance (only cash is accepted), and the usual fare is an extended release oxycodone tablet called OxyContin, or a hydromorphone preparation called Dilaudid.  As pain also comes with anxiety, an anti-anxiety pill called Xanax is also often given.  OxyContin and Xanax are given for anything ranging from tooth-ache to scoliosis; bone fractures usually get Dilaudid instead.

In Canada, doctors are a little more careful with giving out pain medications; you won't get Dilaudid for a broken arm or leg unless you're nice (and manipulative) enough.  If your doctor thinks the pain has been going on for too long, he will send you to a clinic specialising in palliative pain care, like in America; the difference here is that you can't go to a palliative clinic right away---your doctor decides if you should go or not.  Such clinics are, however, a bit more careful than the American ones, as they are generally non-profits owned by hospitals, not companies owned by businessmen.  The good thing is that, if you are employed, you will most likely have pills for free, as pharmacies in Canada must take insurance.  Just like in America, Dilaudid is occasionally used---more commonly, though, oxycodone (called Percocet, Supeudol, or OxyContin), hydrocodone (called Vicoprofen), or fentanyl patches are used.  If you have weak pain, you'll be given codeine (the usual medication for pain unless you ask for something else), morphine (called MS Contin or Roxanol), or tramadol.

By my doctor in Canada, I was given Supeudol, which is pure oxycodone, 20 mgm. a day.  Not much, but not too little either.  It helps me walk without limping, and it helps me feel good because it has some sort of antidepressant effect, very much like morphine does.

In England, pain clinics don't exist---yes, you read that right.  If you are injured, you will be treated by your physician.  The usual medication for pain is morphine (called Heroin, with a capital H), which is very weak.  Morphine tablets come in 5, 10, 15, 30, and 60 mgm strengths; the strongest, morphine 60, is about as strong as a 20 mgm Supeudol.  This is the strongest pain medication in common use in Europe, although the 5 and 10 mgm morphine are considered entirely safe, even for use by children.  This is a gigantic pain in the rear; although over-the-counter pain relievers in England and France are far better than American pain relievers (Canadians can get codeine over the counter), the prescription pain relievers are useless in Europe, and hard to get.

This would be okay, except that my doctor doesn't exactly trust me with the Supeudol, as she is afraid that I party with my pills instead of using them for medicinal purposes.  So, I get a week's worth, #30 5 mgm pills, at a time.  Which is fine, except I'm in Europe.  What the hell am I supposed to do?!