Ottawa, ON – Philippe Lucas, Executive Director of CMCC today released the following statement regarding the release of the report by the Federal Task Force on Legalization: “We applaud the task force for a progressive report that strongly supports a secure, stable medical cannabis system. CMCC welcomes both the explicit recommendation for maintaining a separate medical access framework – which is important to ensuring patient access and safety – and for affirming a commitment to promote and support pre-clinical and clinical research. More research will serve to reinforce messages pertaining to responsible use, and to the use of cannabis in the treatment of a variety of conditions.”
“However, we were concerned to see the recommendation of the task force that the medical system should be taxed in the same way as non-medical cannabis products. It is long past time for federal, provincial and territorial governments to make medical cannabis tax free. By treating medical cannabis consistently with other pharmaceutical-grade products, governments nationwide can reinforce the importance of medical cannabis as a treatment option for patients across Canada, and serve to destigmatize the use of cannabis to treat a variety of chronic conditions.”
CMCC looks forward to continued engagement with government as its continues to develop a policy framework that ensures patient safety and strengthens patient access in a framework apart and separate from a recreational market.
About CMCC
The CMCC represents stakeholders who are committed to advancing the highest standards of integrity, safety, quality, access, security and research within Canada’s medical cannabis industry. Members of CMCC have created, and abide by, the world’s firth professional Code of Ethics designed to serve the best interests of medical cannabis patients. CMCC is committed to serving the needs of patients and works closely with its internal Patient Advisory Council.
Contact
For more information please contact:
Philippe Lucas
Interim Executive Director
Canadian Medical Cannabis Council
plucas@medicalcannabiscouncil.ca
o: 250.824.9567
c: 250.588.1160