|
 The government had been given six months to comply with a federal
court ruling that struck down the previous administration's ban on
medical patients' growing cannabis.
Health Canada said medical marijuana patients would also continue to
have the option of buying cannabis from one of 34 producers licensed
by the federal government.
But it reiterated that storefronts selling marijuana, commonly known
as dispensaries or compassion clubs, are not authorized to sell
cannabis for medical or any other purposes.
"These operations are illegally supplied, and provide products that
are unregulated and may be unsafe. Illegal storefront distribution
and sale of cannabis in Canada are subject to law enforcement
action," Health Canada said in a statement.
Canada's former Conservative government overhauled the country's
medical marijuana program in 2013, requiring patients buy cannabis
from licensed producers through a mail order system.
A federal court judge in Vancouver ruled in February that the
restrictions imposed by the Marijuana for Medical Purposes law were
arbitrary.
The changes to the medical program came as Canada and the United
States are looking at how to deal with the push to legalize
marijuana for medical or recreational uses.
Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau campaigned on a promise to
legalize recreational marijuana and the government has said it would
introduce legislation by the spring of 2017.
[to top of second column] |
Twenty-five U.S. states have sanctioned some forms of marijuana use
for medical purposes, while four allow recreational use. Nine other
states have recreational or medical marijuana proposals headed for
their ballots in the November election.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration earlier on Thursday denied
requests to loosen the classification of marijuana as a dangerous
drug with no medical use.
Shares of Canadian medical marijuana producers edged lower after the
announcement. Canopy Growth was down 11 Canadian cents at C$4.04,
while Mettrum Health fell 15 Canadian cents to C$2.75.
(Reporting by Leah Schnurr; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Richard
Chang)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
