Flying with medical marijuana? 4 things to remember

The better part of 20 years after the first Canadians were allowed to use medical marijuana, the agency that screens air passengers and their bags has explained how people should fly with their legal pot.

Medical marijuana can be carried in either carry-on or checked bags on domestic flights, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority says, and passengers should bring documents showing their pot is legal. Screeners will ask police at the airport to look at the documents.

As recently as last December, 25-year-old Michael Korchak was denied boarding an Air Canada flight in Halifax because he was carrying medical marijuana. He was carrying all of the correct paperwork.

Korchak was prescribed marijuana to deal with pain from an injury related to military service. Air Canada has since changed its rules and offered Korchak a refund.

Cannimed, a Saskatoon-based medical marijuana producer, recommends that people not put marijuana in checked bags. Passengers could end up missing a flight if their bag is opened.
Medical marijuana users should:

Pack the pot in an easy-to-reach place in carry-on luggage, in the original packaging, with all the documents showing you possess it legally. “If they’re carrying it in their regular luggage and they do a sweep with the dogs, it’s going to get flagged,” explains Brent Zettl, Cannimed’s president. “If it gets flagged without an explanation, they have to inspect it, because they’re still looking for illegal contraband. The idea is that you have it with you so you can explain it up front, with all the paperwork.”

Call the airline in advance. “Especially in smaller airports – they’re not accustomed to seeing it very often.”

Tell the security screeners that you’re carrying marijuana.

Allow extra time for police to be called and for them to look at your paperwork.

Zettl would like to move to a system where screeners are trained to check medical marijuana documents themselves, without having to involve the police.

“You have to sit aside, you have to wait for the police to come, and it causes a delay in their travel plans. The (CATSA) staff have to be trained for this kind of thing, what to look for. They’re not trained to review those medical documents to make sure that they are legitimate. ”

Over 50,000 Canadians are authorized to use medical marijuana, Zettl said.

Original article can be found here

Minister Philpott responds to Senate questions on legalization

Canada’s Minister of Health responded to questions about age limits, intoxicated driving, and international treaties as it relates to the government’s pledge to legalize marijuana


Canada’s Minister of Health, the Honourable Jane Philpott, took questions today in the Senate’s Question Period, responding to numerous questions about various issues under Health Canada’s review, including two separate questions relating to cannabis legalization.

The first question on marijuana legalization came from Senator Claude Carignan, the Conservative Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, who asked Minister Philpott why the government was rejecting the Canadian Medical Association’s’ recommendation that an age limit of 21 be set for recreational cannabis at a national level.

The CMA also recommended that quantities and the potency of marijuana be more restricted to those under age 25 to discourage use and sharing with underage friends.

The second question came later from Senator Linda Frum, who asked about the international treaties Canada will be violating by legalizing marijuana. Minister Philpott told the Senate that Canada is working closely with various government agencies to address these concerns.

“The fact is that, in fact the world is looking at us very closely about this. I’ve had numerous international delegations who have come and wanted to speak to me specifically about this because it’s something that many countries around the world are very interested in. They’re watching Canada very closely, which speaks to the fact that we have got to get this legislation right.” -Minister of Health, the Honourable Jane Philpott

First, Senator Carignan characterized the government’s commitment to legalize as a rejection of this and other medical evidence showing the harms of cannabis on young brains, and said more research is needed on intoxicated driving before cannabis becomes legal.

“Why is the government both rejecting and ignoring science by going forward with plans to legalize marijuana?” asked the Senator in French.

Canada’s Minister of Health, the Honourable Jane Philpott, took questions today in the Senate’s Question Period, responding to numerous questions about various issues under Health Canada’s review, including two separate questions relating to cannabis legalization.

The first question on marijuana legalization came from Senator Claude Carignan, the Conservative Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, who asked Minister Philpott why the government was rejecting the Canadian Medical Association’s’ recommendation that an age limit of 21 be set for recreational cannabis at a national level.

The CMA also recommended that quantities and the potency of marijuana be more restricted to those under age 25 to discourage use and sharing with underage friends.

The second question came later from Senator Linda Frum, who asked about the international treaties Canada will be violating by legalizing marijuana. Minister Philpott told the Senate that Canada is working closely with various government agencies to address these concerns.

“The fact is that, in fact the world is looking at us very closely about this. I’ve had numerous international delegations who have come and wanted to speak to me specifically about this because it’s something that many countries around the world are very interested in. They’re watching Canada very closely, which speaks to the fact that we have got to get this legislation right.” -Minister of Health, the Honourable Jane Philpott

First, Senator Carignan characterized the government’s commitment to legalize as a rejection of this and other medical evidence showing the harms of cannabis on young brains, and said more research is needed on intoxicated driving before cannabis becomes legal.

“Why is the government both rejecting and ignoring science by going forward with plans to legalize marijuana?” asked the Senator in French.

Minister Philpott responded by pointing out that the task force report took into account considerations like the CMA’s and that extensive thought and research has gone into the approach the government is taking to ensure the protection of young people from the potential risks of cannabis use.

“This is a very good question and you’re absolutely right that our approach to the matter of cannabis is to be sure that we introduce legislation that is evidence-based and, in fact, there is a significant amount of evidence around cannabis, but I would say that it is an area where there is a shortage of scientific research in terms of the potential benefits and risks associated with it.

“Having said that, one of the things that we did in preparation for the introduction of legislation was to initiate a task force which was led by the Honourable Anne McClellan, who went across the country and met with a huge number of special interest groups who gave advice on that. I hope that senators have had the opportunity to read a very excellent report that the task force brought back to us which we’re examining, and this question in terms of age is a very important one … the legislation will be coming out this spring, so obviously we’ll see more about that at that time.

“I will point out one of the challenges around the age is the fact that the highest user group of cannabis is young people between the ages of 18 and 24, in which case one-third of Canadian youth in that particular age bracket of young adults are currently using cannabis, and so that’s something that has to be taken into consideration in the determination of what the legislation should look like. And obviously, the government’s goal is to make sure we minimize the risks associated with the use of cannabis and keep it particularly out of the hands of kids.”

Senator Carignan, as the Conservatives lead in the senate, has been openly critical of the Liberal Government’s pledge to legalize, and has several pointed questions about legalization still to be addressed in Senate. He announced yesterday he will be stepping down from his leadership position effective March 31.

“You’re absolutely right, we’re committed to introducing legislation the spring, 21 days away. The good news is that spring goes right until June the 21st so that gives us a little bit of a window in there. But we are committed to introducing that legislation in the spring.” -Minister of Health, the Honourable Jane Philpott

Senator Linda Frum, another Conservative member of the Senate, asked a follow-up about international treaties, including the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the The United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988, noting that spring is ‘only 21 days away’ and the government had pledged to introduce legislation by the spring.

“These treaties have 185 and 189 members, respectfully,” said Senator Frum. “Presumably you intend to withdraw Canada form these treaties. With the prospect of retaliation from member nations, including our neighbour to the south, what conversation have you had with your international counterparts to address the possibility of lengthy wait times at the border because searches at point-of-entry once marijuana is legalized in Canada?”

“You’re absolutely right, we’re committed to introducing legislation the spring, 21 days away,” responded Minister Philpott. “The good news is that spring goes right until June the 21st so that gives us a little bit of a window in there. But we are committed to introducing that legislation in the spring.

“You raise an important point, which is that the matter of legalization of cannabis will put us in the scenario where we will be in contravention of three international treaties. This is something that I have discussed with my colleagues. I’ve discussed it with the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and it has recently come up in discussions with the new Minister of Foreign Affairs who is very much aware of this, and we have discussed a range of options as to how Canada could respond to that reality.

“The fact is that, in fact, the world is looking at us very closely about this. I’ve had numerous international delegations who have come and wanted to speak to me specifically about this because it’s something that many countries around the world are very interested in. They’re watching Canada very closely, which speaks to the fact that we have got to get this legislation right. In terms of negative impacts, obviously those things need to be taken into consideration—what that could look like as we go forward and make a decision as to our response to treaties. It is something that needs to be taken into consideration.

“You will no doubt be aware that there are a number of states within the United States that do have legalized cannabis at the present time. Of course that doesn’t put them in contravention because it’s not a federal decision there. But it’s a reality that they are also cognizant of. And clearly we would not want to put Canadians travel in jeopardy and will certainly take these things into consideration and I would be happy to update you at a later time.”
This is the third time the Health Minister has taken questions from the Senate.

Original article can be found here

Teens turn to marijuana to self-medicate for stress, anxiety: report


The teen years are a high-stress, often anxiety riddled time, and research shows that young Canadians admit to turning to marijuana to cope.
Nicole* was 13 when she began using marijuana. She said at first she smoked pot due to peer pressure, but then she realized it offered her an “escape.”

“Since I was young I’ve suffered severe social anxiety which has only gotten worse,” said Nicole said in a message to Global News.
“It has and always will be the only thing that has helped with my severe anxiety and depression.”

Nicole’s story is not unusual. A new study based on cross-country focus groups found that teens are turning to marijuana to self-medicate. But experts worry they don’t always know all the risks.

“There’s this disconnect between what the scientific research shows and the thoughts and perceptions among young people,” said Amy Porath, director of research and policy at the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA).

The study also found that young people tend to think cannabis is not addictive, and think it’s OK to drive after smoking, Porath noted.

Adverse health effects

There is growing acceptance around using marijuana, for both recreational and medicinal purposes, as Canada moves to legalization. But smoking in youth carries greater, long-term risks.
“Young people are vulnerable as a group as well because of their ongoing brain development. Until about 20 to 25, their brains are still undergoing significant maturation and development,” said Porath.

A minimum age of 18 for access to marijuana was a key recommendation of a federal task force looking at legalization.
“The later people start using cannabis … the better,” Dr. Jürgen Rehm, director of the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) told Global News in December.

Cannabis is often regarded as an “innocuous” drug, a 2001 report in the British Journal of Psychiatry notes. However, evidence shows it carries dependency risks and other adverse effects, “particularly among people with pre-existing psychiatric disorders.”

“People with major mental illnesses such as schizophrenia are especially vulnerable in that cannabis generally provokes relapse and aggravates existing symptoms,” the report states.

Ethical concerns restrict research into pot’s effect on young people’s brains, said Mary Olmstead, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Queens University.

“You can’t bring people in, have them smoke pot when they’re 18 and give them a brain imaging study. We don’t do that, ethically,” Olmstead said.

In her work in the area, she typically urges young people to look for other ways to deal with their stress.

“Try yoga first.”

More guidance needed across the board

Medical marijuana users are usually adamant that it’s the best thing for what ails them. But the best way to effectively use pot for therapeutic purposes doesn’t necessarily get easier as you get older.

Medical marijuana user Jason*, 42, has a number of health issues including migraines and severe anxiety. The Torontonian has been on “pretty much every anti-depressant,” and in the past missed work at his job at a bank due to side effects.

Jason calls his cannabis use “a total game-changer.”

“I’ve tried all the meds — they don’t work. This one does.”

However, he said there’s a noted lack of guidance. Even with a prescription, without a person trained to recommend certain strains, dosage, and usage, Jason said “it really is self-medicating.”

“I would much rather have someone come to me and say, ‘this is how much you should use. This is how you use it,’” said Jason.

Still, he would rather experiment with cannabis than go back to pharmaceuticals.

Candi* started smoking marijuana at the age of 28 after a divorce.

“I had such severe depression and anxiety, it manifested as chronic migraines. I started smoking to deal with the constant pain,” said Candi.

Now 36, the rural-Manitoba resident smokes three times a day, without a prescription. Her doctor said she didn’t know enough about medical marijuana to “support prescribing it.”

For now, she relies on a trusted dealer and trial-and-error.
“Some are better than others for sure, but I smoke whatever my dealer gives me,” Candi said.

Nicole, now 34, said she’s well informed about what to consume and what to avoid, thanks to the cannabis shops increasingly popping up in Toronto — and bad experiences with the wrong strains.

“Indicas give you a huge body buzz … Sativas are meant to make you relax and focus and calm,” said Nicole.

“People need to be educated because each causes a different reaction.”

*Last names have been withheld

Original article can be found here