After the Harper government implemented the new Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR), it became a crime in Canada to grow cannabis for personal medicinal use, as allowed under the previous regulations.
In a short period of time, after the MMPR came into existence, court cases were heard. The most significant Supreme Court Cases since the inception of the new MMPR were Smith v. Canada and Allard et al v. Canada. In both decisions, the Supreme Court found that the MMPR violates our Charter of Rights.
The emerging cannabis industry in Canada was sold to "big corporations", by Health Canada, as an emerging multi-billion dollar industry. It seems Health Canada assumed we, as patients, are all ignorant, docile and would just do as we are told regardless of incomprehensible legislation.
Health Canada states that they protect Canadians health (assuming, of course, we are individually unable to make intelligent personal health care decisions ourselves) at the same time as being wined and dined by the lobbying group of Big Corporations.
Understanding the players in the cannabis market is crucial for patients in developing a full understanding behind a simple medicinal plant known as Cannabis sativa. In this regard, for an indepth piece of investigative journalism on this subject, please see Cannabis in Canada , a British Columbia based site and proponent for the right to choose personal health care needs. Cannabis IN Canada dot CA must not be confused with Cannabis Canada, formerly known as CMCIA, a trade association for the Licensed Producers (LPs) in Canada.
There is no question that those in power, both the pharmaceutical industry and government are racing to control a plant. The problem they are having is that the cannabis plant has so many healing benefits, it doesn't fit into Big Pharma's 'rifle approach of one agent against one disease'.