Med Marijuana The many compassionate faces of Cannabis Sativa…. Seniors Advocate Halifax, N.S. September, 2004 Headlines have grabbed us for the past few years exposing the political controversy surrounding the issue of legal provision of Medical Marijuana to a large segment of our nations’ ill and infirm. We have all read the stories of the AIDS patients, Chemo patients, epileptics, pain patients and many others who have proven in our courts that they would have no quality of life and in some cases no life at all, if their access to Medical Marijuana were to be halted. Investigative reporting has shown us that the plant has been politicized, that both medical and recreational use in our country is being put under severe restraint due to pressure from our neighbor to the south. Cannabis Sativa in all of its forms had been legal in Canada until 1923 when at the height of the US led Reefer Madness campaign, Canada banned the plant completely. Evidence which has come out over the years shows us that the US demanded the prohibition to support their new synthetic fiber industry. Wealthy individuals had acquired patent rights to produce polypropylene rope, string and twine but that market was entirely supplied by the natural fiber, Hemp, produced from the Cannabis plant. To fuel the fire for global Cannabis prohibition authorities seized upon its psychoactive ingredient, THC. This substance is prized by recreational users for its euphoric glow and is sought out by the ill for its ability to control pain, wasting, nausea and muscle spasms. To deprive the world of the health benefits of this plant in order to increase market share of synthetic fibre is a classic tale of greed and brainwashing which has been rallied against for all of these years. Due to the determined efforts of many Canadians in our courts and governments we have seen positive change to the Cannabis laws recently allowing for medical use. For those with very serious illness who require high THC treatment, Cannabis is now available on doctors order from Health Canada. Application forms to legally use this treatment may be found on their website at: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/ocma/index.htm. The Office of Cannabis Medical Access may be reached at (613) 954-6540. For those seeking health enhancement from Cannabis without the need for THC therapy, there is now available for general distribution- no license required- low THC Cannabis Sativa in a non-smoked format. Low THC Cannabis has no psychoactive properties whatsoever, meaning that it has no effect on your mood, perception or awareness. It is regularly taken though by an increasing number of Canadians to reduce the pain and swelling of arthritis, reduce blood pressure, control diabetes, reduce bad cholesterol and a number of other conditions. Up until twenty five years ago we did not have a pharmaceutical pill to treat every conceivable condition, yet people lived long, healthy and productive lives. They were able to do so in a large part due to remedies found in nature. Increasingly, people wish to return to the natural, effective remedies available. Low THC Cannabis Sativa Seed oil derives its healthy properties from the unique blend of compounds found in it. This composition of Omega-3, Omega-6, Omega-9, Gamma-Linolinic Acid, Linoleic Acid, plant sterols and sterolins are found nowhere else in Nature and according to anecdotal information, Cannabis oils have been offering superior health since the dawn of time. If suffering from any of the conditions mentioned you owe it to yourself to investigate the forms of Cannabis on the market- high THC or low THC- and try the natural alternative. 2