Cannabis users not "Deadbeats"
By: Jason Youmans, Monday Magazine (CN BC), 04-16-08

Victoria medical cannabis and HIV-AIDS activist Jason Wilcox says the Calgary Sun newspaper owes him and other therapeutic pot puffers an apology following an article published this week headlined "Deadbeat dopers owe big time."

The article focuses on documents obtained by Canadians for Safe Access director Philippe Lucas that show 434 Health Canada Medical Marihuana Access Division patients are in arrears to the tune of $554,225 for the government's prepackaged pot.

"Who else has to face this kind of depredation of character?" says Wilcox. "What about all the other people in the country who are behind in paying for their prescriptions?"

Wilcox is particularly upset by the article-a rewrite of a Canadian Press piece that ran on the newswire the previous day in which he was quoted several times-because he has repeatedly told news outlets he refuses to pay for Health Canada's sub-par weed until the federal department can justify the 1,500 percent markup passed on to patients. Medical cannabis is not covered under any provincial health plan.

"I wonder if we had more money whether they would be so quick to call us deadbeats," says Wilcox, citing the fact many medical marijuana users live below the poverty line.

Wilcox was not the only one to feel slighted by the Alberta tabloid's slanted headline writing. Shortly after the paper hit newstands, the Canadian AIDS Society weighed in on the issue.

"Maybe one day the name calling will cease and people who suffer from serious and chronic conditions and who benefit from the use of marijuana will have their peace. Until then, comments like this just feed the stigma," wrote CAS executive director Monique Doolittle-Romas.

In other medical marijuana news, Health Canada announced Monday it is taking bids for a new supplier of government-approved medical cannabis. Clients have long complained current provider Prairie Plant System's gamma-radiated product is sub-standard. Wilcox, however, says any new supplier won't make much difference unless the government can ensure clients are offered an organic product in multiple strains suited to treating different conditions.

2004 H.U.M.A.N.: Hemp Users Medical Access Network - Toronto Medical Marijuana