***CANADA'S NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAWS: 
      WHAT ARE THEY REALLY ABOUT?


On March 13, 2014 the current medical marijuana laws in Canada will end and an entirely new system of laws concerning medical marijuana will take effect. The current laws allow those registered as medical marijuana patients to grow their own marijuana or to buy government produced marijuana from authorized pharmacies. Under the new laws that go into effect in a few months, medical marijuana patients will no longer be permitted to grow their own marijuana and the government will no longer produce marijuana, nor will pharmacists be involved in the sale of medical marijuana to patients.

The legal reasons stated for this drastic change in the medical marijuana laws in Canada are listed as public health, safety and security issues. Despite reading many articles and trying to discover these alleged public health, safety and security issues, one is hard pressed to find a single article describing exactly what those issues are. There were a few (very few) growers who had fires break out. Those were all related to poor wiring. Electrical issues are easy to cure and simple compliance inspections of grow operations would remove that issue from the table. As for public health and security, there was nothing describing exactly what they are, just the generic legal umbrella under which the politicians are able to enact new and stricter laws.                                                                         So why the need to fix that which is not broken?

There are currently 37,359 registered medical marijuana patients in Canada. That number is much higher than the 477 registered medical marijuana patients in 2002 evidencing the need for medical marijuana. Of those 37,359 registered medical marijuana patients, 25,600 are licensed to grow their own medical marijuana. Of those 25,600 licensed to grow their own medical marijuana, only 4,200 are specifically licensed to grow for one (and only one) other registered patient besides themselves. All of these rights will be stripped away from Canadian medical marijuana patients as of March 13, 2014.

Under the new laws there are currently 156 applications awaiting approval to grow medical marijuana on a much larger scale in huge warehouses. These warehouses will be owned and operated by those entrepreneurs with enough money to buy the licenses, the warehouses, the property on which the warehouses sit, the massive costs of filling that space with the maximum lighting possible and to employ a staff large enough to grow, trim and prepare the medical marijuana for public sale and to distribute it. With private sector businesses, profits tend to be the overriding priority rather than producing a high quality product that is organic and safe.

Under the new laws patients will be permitted to purchase medical marijuana from these massive warehouse farms. All sales will be through a mail order system and thoroughly regulated. The regulations only apply to the amount of marijuana sold and the income the entrepreneurs take in. These strict regulations will not cover the quality of medical marijuana grown nor the non-organic fertilizers and pesticides used to grow the marijuana to produce ever larger and more profitable plants. This puts unsuspecting (and already burdened with health issues) patients at further risk of ingesting marijuana and medical marijuana products that essentially contain poisons detrimental to their already deteriorating health.

Health Canada's current average price of medical marijuana is approximately $5 per gram. The projected cost of private sector medical marijuana after the new laws take effect in March is expected to be about $7.60 per gram. CannaMed, the first licensed distributor in the private sector is currently advertising their medical marijuana at a cost of $9 to $12 per gram once the new laws go into effect. Keep in mind that the current black market cost of marijuana in Canada is approximately $10 to $15 per gram. No matter how one tries to make sense of these new laws, they fail to address any alleged public health, safety or security issues. They also have the added disadvantage of driving up the cost of medical marijuana for patients. These patients are often already financially strapped due to their varying medical issues. 

So why the sudden change in medical marijuana laws that seemed to be working so well according to the patients who are the intended beneficiaries of these medical marijuana laws? It is simply a desire for profits. Health Canada has projected that by 2014 there will be 58,000 registered medical marijuana patients. They further project that by 2024 there will be 450,000 registered medical marijuana patients in Canada. Health Canada has estimated that by 2024 the medical marijuana industry will be a 1.3 billion dollar per year market. That 1.3 billion dollar per year market will all be taxed at a higher rate, a luxury tax, and not as a medical necessity. 

It appears to be obvious that the only reason for the change of the current medical marijuana laws in Canada is related to revenue collection and has little (or nothing) to do with any issues of public health, safety or security. Sadly, this massive change of the current and well functioning medical marijuana laws in Canada is more about a healthy economy than about a healthy population of Canadian citizens.


 Georgia:  AMEN! *Well said as always! Thank you Lisa! I am the first to admit - I know what I want to say, but often it is difficult - just as cartooning is difficult for many!  She once again put it perfectly IMO. Are you paying attention Canadians?  

Guest Blog * By Lisa B 

CHILDREN & MEDICINAL CANNABIS 
There are certain rights and privileges given to us by the universe that human lawmakers have deemed illegal. Being deemed illegal by human laws does not negate the rights and privileges given to us by the universe. Deeming something legal or illegal does not make it moral or immoral. The legality of something is not a true test of right or wrong. Right and wrong are issues that are better addressed by an inquiry into whether or not the illegal act does any actual harm to anyone. Does breaking a particular law harm either the individual or society as a whole? The list of such laws is countless, but here I am referring to the use of marijuana. 

Anti marijuana laws are based solely on unscientific and untrue propaganda stemming from the 1930's. The purpose of the anti marijuana laws was to diminish the competition with leading corporations at the time that produced inferior products ranging from pharmaceuticals to textiles and fuel. Despite the fact that all of the propaganda was false, the anti marijuana stereotypes  still persist today. These anti marijuana laws have the effect of making otherwise law abiding citizens hailed as criminals. This is especially true of parents who choose to utilize medicinal marijuana to treat their child's illness. Rather, parents are expected, even pressured by doctors, to utilize the more "traditional" (using the term loosely) methods of medical treatment. 

Traditional methods include, but are not limited to, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, bone marrow transplants, prescription pills, experimental drugs and of course, general anesthesia to undergo some of these treatments. Since traditions are passed down over time, it is actually more sensible to consider medicinal marijuana the traditional treatment and to consider these newer and deadly treatments and their life draining side effects more experimental in nature. If nothing else, these newer methods are extremely profitable to the healthcare industry in ways that medicinal marijuana could not be. The healthcare industry is a 2.6 trillion dollar a year industry. That allows for more than enough lobbyists and politicians to benefit from anti marijuana laws than is possible with marijuana legalization. 

In spite of this obvious motivation of financial gain that keeps anti marijuana laws on the books, lawmakers continue to insist that the only real motivation for anti marijuana legislation is to protect the public from the supposed harms of marijuana use. But those alleged harms from marijuana use are unfounded and untrue. Anti marijuana laws are what is harmful to individuals and society. Medicinal marijuana is harmful to no one, not even children. Parents facing such a decision have to sum up massive amounts of courage in the face of being arrested, charged, jailed and worst of all, the possibility of having their child taken away from them based on alleged child endangerment.

Medicine is supposed to be based on facts, test trials and their outcomes. Propaganda and lies are neither medicine nor fact. The medical facts about medicinal marijuana and children have proven that marijuana is safe for use with children and that there are no long term side effects. The only side effects noted were dizziness and disorientation that lasted only a few hours. Such side effects are nominal at most and allow parents to give their child the best possible medicinal option without the life draining side effects of the more profitable options available through the more common and dangerous medical treatments listed above.

There are countless anecdotal stories of children being treated with medicinal marijuana. Most had already gone through the current medical treatments and the agony and side effects of those treatments prior to turning to medicinal marijuana. Story after story recounts the tragedies of current methods and the life saving effects they finally obtained with marijuana use. Children as young as 8 months old have been successfully treated with medicinal marijuana where all current treatments had failed. I could recite them all, but instead I refer the reader to articles such as US NEWS AND WORLD REPORTS article entitled "Medical Marijuana is Safe for Children" and GROWING MEDICAL's article entitled "Studies Show Benefit of Medical Marijuana for Children" as well as ABC NEW's article entitled "Marijuana as Alternative Treatment with OCD and Autism" just to name a few.

The medical facts about medicinal marijuana are that, "The cannabinoid acids in cannabis have been found to have anti-proliferative, anti-neoplastic, anti-inflammatory, anti-epileptic, anti- ischemic, anti-diabetic, anti-psychotic, anti-nausea, anti-spasmodic, antibiotic, anti-anxiety and anti-depressant functions. The anti-neoplastic action of cannabis (inhibiting development of malignant cells) was recognized in the 1970's and patented by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services  in 2003". (cited from William Courtney M.D.)

The gist of the various articles is that medical peer reviews that reject medical marijuana are profiting from the current 2.6 trillion dollar healthcare industry. Parents who chose cannabinoid concentrates or other medicinal marijuana options for their child were able to spare their child the horrifying experience of currently accepted treatments. The healthcare industry lost out on a million dollar sale each time a parent chose medicinal marijuana over the million dollar treatment options. The outcome in each testimonial was the same. Medicinal marijuana is safe for use with children. Tumors shrunk, epilepsy became manageable, cancer and scar tissue disappears, OCD evaporates, and the list goes on. 

People once believed that the earth was flat. Time and experience have proven that theory to be wrong. Slavery was once legal and helping a slave run away for freedom was illegal. Today we know that breaking such a law was the right thing to do despite it's illegality. The anti marijuana propaganda that supports anti marijuana laws was once commonly accepted as true. People believed marijuana was dangerous to both body and mind. Today we know that propaganda is untrue and unacceptable. 

It is not enough to rely on propaganda and lies in order to secure monetary profits. It is not enough to say it is wrong because it is illegal and therefore inappropriate for medical use. It is not enough to say that the doctor said it was dangerous or wrong. What is enough is to educate one's self on the real medical benefits of medicinal marijuana and if it is right for your child, to choose that option over all others. No one will protect your child more ferociously and more lovingly than you will. If medicinal marijuana is right for your child, use it. It could be the one thing that will change their life for the better and could even save their life.
 
❤

I met William on Fb  a long time ago... I don't know who became who's (WHOM?)  friend, but I can tell you I have grown fond of him. I knew him before Ryuu ;-)  He makes me laugh. I'm not always sure why. I find him honest and upfront.
He has had me slightly 'ticked' to put it nicely, a few times! Once about breast feeding.  He gets me thinking.  I like his wife and I have never even seen her, usually only what banter William decides to share.  I think he is one of my favorite dads. It has been interesting for me watching and seeing the posts of a stay at home dad.... anyhow I am thankful for meeting them and look forward to watching the family grow 
;-) .  Ask and you shall receive, and he did. G

It Has Been A Year and My Baby Is Not Even Broken. 
By William F. Steele

On April 17th Ryuu Dio Steele will be turning over his first leaf. My child will be one years old. It will be a joyful day filled with all kinds of grilled meats and cakes. Let us also not forget it will be a day of swollen egos. You see I suffered through many “talks” being told too many times on how I am one of those who will never really understand what it is like to truly raise an offspring just because, you know, I have male parts. Because of all those little talks I am overly ecstatic to be here with my testosterone filled battle cry “the babe lives! Ye woman folk can move along now RawR!”

As my baby boy’s birthday nears I find myself looking back at all the little “talks” I had gotten from parents-in-the-know. Some ranged from what brands of diapers to get while others explained how colors of cups will dictate my child’s sexual preference. Some I listened to most I ignored and in the end other than a few scrapes I have made it through the first year with an intact child. You may applaud now as I take a bow. Thank you! Thank you!

Before I get feedback of “well you had it easy your wife worked and did chores” I would like to bring up during my first year as the main caregiver I was going through some drama of my own. Short version of a long story: A few months before my son’s birth my mother dies in front of me. Being a huge momma’s boy I really miss my mother. It’s funny. I can’t touch bacon anymore because I can still taste it from when I was doing CPR on her on a morning a few days before my birthday. Now no dwelling let us move on to a month before my son’s birth my house was invaded by 20 or so combat ready individuals because a friend decided to make a snitch’s paycheck. He knew being the cannabis activist that I am I would most likely have a few cannabis plants here and there plus he knew just what to say to get me to hand one over. Thirty two years old never been arrested the first time a cannabis plant leaves my home a friend gives me up for some drug money. Isn’t that just funny let me tell you once I realized who had snitched me out my cell mates all looked at me a little worried as I laughed so hard I could not breath. Oh ya before I forget about how I also was stuck playing nice to my father’s other family as she moves into my mother’s house and drives my mother’s car. No comment move along nothing more to see here. Now throw in general bad luck stuff like how I threw my back out getting out of bed when my wife’s water broke and that pretty much sums up the disadvantage parts going on during the first year or so.

I do not bring up these woeful times to glum your day I bring it up to show off my brilliance as a stay at home parent. During this time when it would have been understandable to just shut down I put on a smile, did a little laugh, and pulled up my big boy pants so I could play the role that was set before me.

And these are a few random things I’ve learned. Over these past months.

Changing Diapers Suck! And I still have not decided yet what is worse: breathing through my nose or through my mouth. Tough call do I just want to smell it or smell it and taste it in theory if I breathe through my mouth. Even if you try to go all rodeo and get it done at record speed it still sucks. As soon as the rugrat was able to sit up on his own bathroom training began. It has been a long slow road but the outcome will be its weight in gold.

This bit of advice I will have to give credit to mother’s worldwide. “When the baby sleeps you sleep!” That is such a golden rule it would be wise to burn it in to your memory if you’re a first time parent.

It does not matter what color, cloths, or if I love hello kitty my child has an even chance of becoming straight, gay, or cross gender. It irks me to no ends when a parent-in-the-know tries to push the idealism that he must conform. I have no time for this foolishness because in the end it is not the neon pink and purple sippy cup that could make him gay. Pretty sure it would be the interest in other males he develops on his own time through his own experiences that does it.

The day will come when he finds some one he wants to share his love with and it will be a happy day that’s all I know. The idea where the option of shaming him to change to the “norm” causing confusion and self loathing that can very well drive him out of our lives or worst lead to one day where we find him hanging in his own closet is just unheard of in this house hold. The king of the castle has spoken so be it ordered.

Anyone can learn a lot by listening to the advice from another. But there was this one statement that I would hear every now and then that would just drive me right up the wall. “He is too young for that.” Well of course he is too young to understand physicist Brian Cox talking about whatever he seems to be excited about that day. I don’t expect him to. Nor do I feel my baby has to be able to grasp all of the sign language we practice throughout the week. The goal is to lay down the tracks for when he is at the point where he should be able to understand it. It’s a pity that so many parents will limit their child just because they are too young. 4 months into Ryuu’s life he was responding to me with simple nods and crude signs of yes or no. Once we had this crude way of communicating I knew right then age limit is just a limit of the mind. I still believe in this theory as I practice math on chalk boards with Ryuu sitting on my shoulders.

On a side note when Ryuu learned that if he signed “up” he will get thrown into the air great for him but for me I ended up doing reps of thirty lifts a day as he grew heavier. But as time went on we started to branch out into other feats of daring acrobatics like now of days he is practicing how to stand on my shoulders as I walk around. We have so much fun that all started with the American Sign Language sign for “up”.

Yes I have a child, yes I am worried about going to prison, no I will not stop being an open cannabis activist. As of a few weeks ago we have decided to up my game and try my hand with politics at a local level. The idea of leaving these unjust cannabis prohibition laws where they are scares me more than prison. The idea that my child might have to go through an arrest like I had experienced sends chills down my spine that fuels an anger inside of me.

No one has ever died from an overdose of cannabis and it’s a plant with thousands of uses. With hard work I’ll be able to show my child that if the people stand up against unjust practices they can be stopped. This will be one of the most important lessons I teach my child I believe.

Now if you happen to live in Alabama don’t forget to vote for William F. Steele in 2018. Your support would be greatly appreciated. https://www.facebook.com/WilliamFSteele

To leave you hungry for more I will brush up on the topic of food. Most understand it as one must eat to live but around here it is live to eat. My fear from all of the “talks” was I would be doomed to serving nothing but chicken nuggets and hotdogs. As a hobby chef and a cookbook author I was terrified let me tell you. I am just that skilled or I must have lucked out. No lie I have a little food disposal unit. It does not matter, veggies, seafood, sweets, meats, he is willing to eat it as long as it is offered to him. The fact that he was willing to eat anything opened the doors for so many healthy dishes without much fuss but plenty of adorable messes.

Seeing that rugrat gobbling up a simple chicken stir fry with a huge grin and smacking those lips is one of my favorite feelings. The simple joy of knowing I won’t ever need to offer Ryuu over processed foods just so he will eat is the greatest. One of my favorite cooking tips is to add hemp seeds to your meals. Those little seeds are packed full with so much healthy goodness its foolish not to add them.

Rugrat Approved Chicken Stir Fry
Can server 2 adults 1 child
1 pound of thinly sliced chicken breast or 2 deboned chicken thighs thinly sliced up
½ a cup of chopped onion
4 crushed and diced garlic cloves
Pinch of red pepper
1 table spoon of hemp seeds
½ a cup of sliced mushrooms
½ a cup of sliced bell peppers
½ a cup of (veggie of choice)
Splash of cooking oil
Soy sauce to taste (I usually use about 1/3 cup of soy sauce)
1-2 teaspoon of honey (optional)
1teaspoon of corn starch dissolved in a little water (if you want a thick sauce)

Let us start by pre heating the oil in a large wok or frying pan over a med high heat. To this we need to add the garlic giving it enough time to release its flavor without burning.

The chicken will go in next along with the soy sauce, pepper and add the honey if you want a sweet twist. Allow it to cook for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Now it is time for the veggies and depending on how you enjoy your vegetables depends on when to add them. I generally add them all in at the same time just allowing them to heat up throughout. I love keeping the crispiness of vegetables when I am cooking for myself but to each their own.

Once the vegetables are cooked to your liking you’re done unless you would like the sauce to be thicker. Lower the heat to a simmer then stir in the corn starch water mixture. The sauce will turn milky for a minute but will clear up as it mixes in so don’t panic. Allow it to simmer allowing the sauce time to thicken up to almost a syrup texture.
Serve on top of rice and Enjoy!

William sent me his cookbook! Probably not knowing I don't cook. BUT I figure IF I do cook - It will be from this book, and I will let you know how it went ;-) . William is also ambitious and hey WHY NOT! We have one shot at this life- I wanted to be a syndicated cartoonist, I have people who share my cartoons all over the world. ;-) And TEACH RYUU to reach fro the stars too!  You can get his cook book at:   http://www.amazon.ca/Cannabis-Cuisine-Whipping-Some-ebook/dp/B0053YQEMG

Today's Guest Blog is from Jeff, a young man that friended me on FB.  I talk to many people about Crones, from what I have learned, it is serious discomfort and often situations where life is 'interrupted' because of it.  I was so thrilled when I got Jeff's e mail and more so the fact that he is 26 and gets it! He is looking after his health and his own body -and he helped educate his Dr.s.
Speak up! It is your health, I think Jeff is lucky - he appears to have figured out early, how to do what is best for his body.. too many of us don't 'get that' until much later and too much damage done. 


I started using cannabis in grade 9.
 Then for the next few years I was your average 'rebellious' pothead teenager, or so I thought. Also around the beginning of high school I began having a lot of issues with my tummy. Okay, that is an understatement; SHIT was bad and getting worse! After telling my family doctor three times that I was often in pain and getting bouts of bloody diarrhea, he decided I should see a specialist. 
My first appointment with the specialist I was told I probably had crohn’s disease. 
After a bunch of tests no person should have to go though, it was confirmed I had a severe case of crohn’s. The next couple years I did a lot of research and tried many different medications to control my symptoms.

 Around the time I was diagnosed with crohn’s, marijuana for medical issues seemed to be in the news more, I saw AIDS and cancer patients getting relief from many of the same symptoms I was suffering from.  After googling ‘marijuana & crohns’, I found Michelle Rainey (R.I.P). Her website really inspired me to view the cannabis I had been smoking for years as the medicine it truly is. I realized for many years I had been mainly smoking it before eating or when I felt 'crappy' and would conserve it better than most teens. 
After that realization I spoke to my family doctor on many occasions and three gastrointestinal specialists about the Health Canada medical marijuana access program (MMAR), they all had similar opinions that cannabis has no medical value for my condition. 

How could I be denied the only thing that brings some relief from terrible symptoms caused by this nasty disease? I did eventually find a specialist who at the time was only seeing patients in similar situations to sign their MMAR paperwork. Then after two years of 'monitored' use my family doctor finally agreed with me enough to start signing my yearly renewals. Even with my MMAR I still don’t have reasonable access to medicine.
 I am glad to have a doctor that will sign, but he still doesn’t understand that I need much more than 3 grams per day to be able to make strong enough extracts to effectively control my disease, and then the issue of MMAR not allowing those extracts.  Until very recently I have not been able to grow myself because I rent and can’t find a grower wanting to grow for a small prescription. As of right now (03/03) I am waiting on my first production license(PPL), but I am stuck trying to decide if it’s worth setting up a grow now because Health Canada is taking away PPL’s on April 2014. Unfortunately, right now cannabis is the only thing keeping me able to work, yet a large portion my income is going to cannabis. 

 The main symptoms I treat with cannabis are abdominal cramping, nausea, diarrhea and low appetite.  There has been many times where cramping and diarrhea have been so extremely painful, and then just a couple of puffs will sooth my stomach to the point I am able to eat and continue living.   In addition to the symptoms cannabis helps, I also find it very useful in minimizing some of the side effects of many prescription drugs I have been on.  When I was on Remicade, I would get extremely stiff and sore joints and muscles after every injection for about 2-3 days, cannabis would help reduce the pain to get me though those days.  At the end of last year I decided to stop taking Remicade because it was only giving me a couple weeks of partial relief every two months, and has way too many potential side effects that I am terrified of. Although I may not be in complete remission yet, my disease is fairly well controlled with cannabis alone.  I am now taking a small dose of RSO every night, and use medibles during the day and vaporize or smoke for immediate relief as needed. 

Recently after meeting a few cannabis activists that were touring from the west coast, I felt driven to get more involved. Now I am helping to arrange more cannabis friendly events and protests around my hometown, Kitchener. My dream is to one day be more involved in medical cannabis by owning or working for a local compassion club or vapor cafe.   I am constantly meeting many great people in the ‘cannabis community’ and I am genuinely proud to be involved in it.   I hope one day everyone who needs cannabis has access to it.

 Jeff 

https://www.facebook.com/pot.forpain 
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crohn's_disease -General info about Crohn’s disease
http://www.michellerainey.com/     >  Michelle Rainey’s website

I received a letter recently from this gentleman asking if I could help him, he is a patient & grower looking for a couple patients to also grow for. He asked me to refer some people to him.                      I explained that because of my knowledge from the past few years... I do not hook up patients with growers. I wish I could!   
Why don't I? 
Simply because I do know know this person- personally, he seems like a really nice man and we can relate to what he is dealing with, but - I am also aware of all that can and does go wrong with growing. I have heard the stories and witnessed the results.  
If I said - let this guy grow for you, and for what ever reason his crop was not successful (due to bugs, mold, many things can lead to a bad crop- sometimes out of control of the grower) and the grower could not provide the medicine the patient needed,  I would feel terrible!  Recently, I heard of a grower who could not provide all the meds. to a patient because he needed to sell some for his vacation!!   WTF?
I was very angry when I heard this. That is bullshit. I told my friend to SPEAK up! 
He is a very nice, easy going, laid back person (one of my favorite people ;-) 
It appears to me his grower is taking advantage of his good nature. That is not right.

SO, I will not refer any growers, to bad..  I really like most people I know that grow,
I have only met a handful that I would not trust myself, for my own reasons.  
YOU have to make the decision yourself!  IT IS your medicine!  Be aware.

THERE are many GREAT growers, providers who do help and keep their patients happy and medicated. I even know of a few who go above and beyond, one in particular provides medicine and 'GIVES' Cannabutter (made with trim) also so they might try baking their medicine.  AWESOME! 
Get to know your grower! Ask questions - what if? 

 With that being said, I can relate to this gentleman and his plea and he wants to help others and himself.  I hope that he does find a couple of patients and is able to provide for them. I hope he lives up to his promises because- he is dealing with peoples lives. 
I hope this from all growers.  Thank You to Mark for sharing his story below!  
Contact him if you need a grower and come to your own conclusion.  ♥


Do Your Best, Never Quit, Have Fun

I went blind and almost died from the fight or flight response to pain, the year was 2000 and I had a ten year old son and an eight year old daughter. I am still with my wife of almost 25 years, our son has graduated Waterloo Engineering and now Teachers College, and our daughter who was Student Council President and graduated with honours is now a hairstylist. This is a story of love, hope and pain.

My diagnosis, previously asymptomatic congenital spondylilolisthesis with insitu articulation and 5% of all caucasians are afflicted. I was also post-operatively diagnosed with spina bifida occulta and seven years later with failed back surgery. What about our children! If you are born with the first disc above your tailbone incompletely formed and connected to your tailbone when this breaks you and your immediate family live in shame.

It is a general school of thought amongst the medical community that if the patient will not be able to return previous employment the most cost effective management is pain control until death. This will normally occur within 5 years. SEE THE BREAKING SPINE www.iofbonehealth.org/breaking-spine-report-2010

 So by day I did my best to be Dad; I worked as much as possible and when I didn’t work I volounteered at the kids’ school. I also coached soccer and hockey as well as furthered my education. During the night I would and still do, pull a Casper, walking and moaning. After my back surgery my doctor of fifteen years asked me,  “Please do not sue me Mark.” and I answered, in my naiveté, “Oh no that’s not what I am about, I just want you to be a good family doctor for my family.”.  Well, that didn’t last long. Two years later when my son fainted at work and doctors at an unnamed hospital tried to illegally hook him on anti-seizure medication my beloved doctor refused to help. This meant that my son, to whom we gave an insured vehicle, lost his driver’s license and was no longer able to be the designated driver for his university friends.

The only meds I take are medicinal cannabis; most often sativa during the day and indica at night. Sativa will speed you up and because it has amazing effects on neural systems i.e. pain, ms, seizures, encourages the very important minor accomplishments such as doing the dishes or cutting the lawn. These minor accomplishments are the building blocks of mental health. Being useful leads to earned pride.  At a time when I was legally blind, very crippled and all I could accomplish was the dishes, as it took me all day up and down, I felt a need to understand, accept and not give in to depression.
 Do Your Best, Never Quit, Have Fun was born. While the sativa cannabis helps you manage your pain and push yourself,  when you are finished and it is time to relax you can consume indica strains. These indica strains can be very heavy and in conjunction with an overall plan will overcome the fight or flight response. In my case I exercise regularly to burn off norepenephrine and epipenephrine, otherwise known as cortisol.

 I learned, Do your best, Never Quit, Have Fun. Basically we all need to fit our skins and accept others as they or their circumstances shape their realities.  I have spent time in the classroom on both sides of the desk. I taught Consumers Gas technicians refrigeration and air conditioning. I did this in Toronto and St. Catharines. I also have the hours in the field and am a licensed; refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic, sheet metal worker and gas fitter 2, I also have a small commercial air system design license.                   

I am a user of medicinal marijuanas and grow for myself as well as one patient. You can see an article about me at northumberlandtoday.com, it was written by Valerie MacDonald and published January 17, 2013.  Thank you Valerie.
I am looking for two more patients who are Health Canada licensed to possess and consume between five and ten grams of marijuana per day. Hopefully we can get set-up in time to be grandfathered in as a going concern.
Thank you Georgia!
Mark


You can contact Mark @ : indicaorsativa@gmail.com

by:Jane Grey

Cannabis. To some, it’s medicine, or a drug, or a way to relax. To others, they are indifferent, skeptical about it’s use, or choose not to believe a natural plant that does no harm could do so much good. I used to be one of the skeptics. 

    

Two years ago, my husband was diagnosed with a terminal form of cancer called Merkel Cell Carcinoma found at Stage 4 in his lymph nodes. Merkel Cell Carcinoma is a rare and fast-growing form of skin cancer that only 1000 people get diagnosed with in North America per year. Doctors know very little about this form of cancer. Normally, a patient's prognosis is grim because 90% of people diagnosed with Merkel Cell Carcinoma are over the age of 60 and are too ill or old to go through extensive chemotherapy or radiation treatment to slow down the rapid growth of Merkel Cell Carcinoma. My husband at the time was only 35 when he received his diagnosis and was expected to only live 3 months.

   

After several chemotherapy treatments his condition worsened, I suggested he try cannabis in hopes it would help him. He was skeptical it would be beneficial, but knew it was no worse than his monthly chemotherapy and medications since I did not have to wear a haz-mat suit to hand him a joint. He found cannabis not only helped pre-existing back pain, but eliminated nausea for up to 4 hours, gave him energy, appetite, helped his depression caused by his diagnosis and was able to re-gain some independence again. I saw cannabis take a man off his death bed quicker than he was put there. Though, cannabis could not help him with recovering between chemotherapy treatments but made life more bearable while going through it. Even years after his chemotherapy is over (and he’s still alive) he is left with a chronic ‘bone ache‘ common with people who have been through chemo, and a loss of energy and appetite he once had prior to his treatments. 

    

Adam found no supportive doctor who would sign his MMAR. Even his oncologist, the doctor that told him he only had 3 months to live suggested he “buy off the street” because what cop would arrest a man with cancer? Well, this doctor was mis-informed. Because they do, violently. Sure, we found some doctors who wanted $500 for a signature, but it was far beyond what we could afford. It made us wonder who exactly could afford $500 a year to have their paperwork signed? Doctors don’t even get paid $500 a visit by Health Canada when you see them. Health Canada’s wages for doctors are posted publicly. Depending on the doctor or circumstance, they receive $60-$120 per visit. Something along these lines are more fair and affordable to someone on a reduced income from CPP Disability, ODSP or a pension. Most people looking to obtain a MMAR are usually on a fixed income, because they’re ill! It shouldn’t be held against them. Also, I think it would be illogical for a doctor to risk their practice and license over $100, even $200. The risk far outweighs the gain, regardless of how much they would make annually from it. However, a doctor that charges $500 up to $1000 to fill out paperwork- which doctor would be more likely to turn a blind eye to someone who is.. not so sick? And, who would be more likely to have this kind of money readily available to pay said doctor?
    
    
Health Canada is considering making changes to the MMAR to take away a patient's right to grow because of criminals. But, how exactly did these criminals obtain a MMAR? I think some of the statistics could be falsified. In Canada, our Charter of Rights and Freedoms gives us freedom of association. And, regardless of what a person does or who they know, because they are a ‘criminal‘ doesn’t make them immune to illnesses, diseases, and getting common conditions associated with age. So if they did actual research, how many would be left out of 20,000 exemptions that are actually using and abusing the system. That paid a doctor to turn a blind eye only to take advantage of the system. And how come, because of so few taking advantage- why are thousands left to suffer?

    

The average monthly income for someone on assistance from disability or retirement ranges from $700-$1500 per month depending on the province, circumstances and where the income is coming from.  Cannabis can currently be grown outdoors for essentially free less the costs of  some nutrients. It can also be grown indoors very inexpensively. However, Health Canada wants to take away this affordability and charge patients $8/g [$500-$2480 per month based on the average prescription of 2g-10g/day]. Most indoor growers will find that they are paying no more than $200/mo additional hydro for a larger indoors grow operation- and someone with a 2g/day prescription and only 10 plants will not generate $500 worth of hydro or nutrients per month. 

    

Health Canada’s proposal is not only inconsiderate, but goes against some basic human rights. If I need medicine- Most have benefit plans or can purchase third party health plan. Depending on the province, if you have low income and would qualify for a provincial disability plan- you can get free health coverage from your own government. If you choose to use holistic remedies, many can be grown in your backyard, or a window ledge for free. But Health Canada has no intention of issuing a BIN number for cannabis, and they are taking away a patients right to grow their own holistic and beneficial medicine for free. Implementing these new regulations will only cost our government more money, because those who receive a lower income will be arrested for continuing to grow because they cannot afford to buy their medication. Daily, cannabis related charges are being withdrawn because many qualifying patients cannot afford or find a supportive doctor and the government does recognize this and does withdraw charges based on health conditions. Should new laws be implemented, the courts would have to recognize and provide the same respect and consideration since a person should not be arrested for being poor. 

    

I think these new regulations would have very little legal standing when brought to court. This does not stop violent police arresting sickly people, and crown attorneys dragging cases out in hopes of finding ‘something’ because they don’t want to lose. But when the decision comes to a judge or jury, no human being could ever send a sick person to jail for not having enough money, even if it was brought as far as a trial. These new regulations would also cost the government more money. I have no doubts people would still continue to grow- and eventually be arrested by police, and have a case dragged out by a crown attorney, and be represented by a legal-aid funded lawyer. All this excess time, efforts and money so a small percentage out of 20,000 people would not be able to sell cannabis. Wouldn’t that same money be better spent on funding efforts on stopping meth and crack dealers, illegal gun sellers, or heck.. Education? 

  

 I have personally been using medicinal cannabis for a year. I had an unsuccessful knee surgery leaving me with chronic pain and difficulty walking; leaving me to rely on the assistance of others just to live.  I also have a nerve disorder causing tremors and chronic nerve pain in my hands, legs and face. Simply typing out this blog post sharing my ideas, experience and opinions is a struggle- without cannabis. I have to use a walker or cane to get around. I also have a digestive disorder that causes sensitivity to almost all medication, and a year prior to using cannabis, I was chronically ill just from taking medications to help some symptoms and in turn would create new ones or worsen pre-existing conditions. Cannabis is the only medicine I have ever taken that helps all my health conditions, and does not make me sick. 

     

There was a me before I was disabled. Everyone had a them before they landed where they are. I had a great job, happy and comfortable lifestyle and just thinking back to when I was able to walk easily where ever I wanted is something I truly miss. One of the last freedoms I have, that I am still physically able to do is grow my own medicine. Do not take away our freedom to grow and access affordable medicine. 

Jane Grey is the author of My Criminal Cure detailing her husband's struggle with cancer, using cannabis as medicine and their legal battle. 


Georgia : Well said Jane! Jane is a friend of FB , I can not wait to read this book. So sad that so many people are suffering and dealing with this crap. I am sure it is just the beginning  of a POTlitical nightmare to come,  thanks to The MMAR program. 
Stay tuned and tooned.. 
xox <>< 

Niki sends me messages from time to time. More support and smiles.  It is friends I have made online that have shared experiences that continue to make me more determined on helping them share their story! Niki made my day when she told me that part of helping her own family understand the issues they are dealing with - they shared Storm's story with their family!
 It made family members have a new outlook. - THAT is why we do what we do. 
Simple ❤ 

Women leading in alternative medicine education
Posted by Niki Smokes

Mainstream media has taken a grip on all of our minds and injected the paradigm of moral medicine. How did we go from drinking teas and eating nutritious foods to care for our organic bodies to accepting manufactured magic bullets as cure-alls? Sad?! ..there's a pill for that. In pain?! ..there's a pill for that. Not ready for parenthood? ..there's a pill for that too.

Cher Kore, AromatherapistAlternative Medicine has been around longer than Big Pharma. Literally thousands of years of prescribed teas and tinctures verses less than hundred years of pills and injections. Why are the pharmacies winning? They have marketing committees yet to be matched. Because media and government are selling you their magic pills and fear of the unknown, we are neglecting to discover the true potential of the ever healing human body.

Today women are taking on that challenge and bringing it to the next level. Emerging in the independent and mainstream media is a new acceptance of natural health care and its ability to assist patients through their most dire struggles. We hear the stories and can briefly catch them in the local news before they are quickly buried under the weather.

Survivors, caretakers and advocates want you realize the miracles happening all over the world. They are here to change your perspective of combining the alternatives with modern medicine.

From Storm's Story in Treating Yourself Magazine Georgia's son Storm was born with a painful and debilitating syndrome called multiple stenosis. Sometimes conventional medicine can be too demanding on a human body.. especially a growing one. Left with very limited choices Georgia decided it was time for an alternative. Cannabis is now Storm's medicine of choice.
"From the first puff, we saw the results, and that is what mattered most to US! Results we had not ever seen with any other medication. Not to mention we did not have a fear of overdoses or liver damage or organs shutting down! From a PLANT!" - Georgia Peschel
Click here to read Storm's Story written by Georgia Peschel in Treating Yourself
Georgia enjoys drawing cartoons chronicling life's fleeting moments and uses her talent to educate about cannabis as an alternative medicine. Check out her blah blah blog!
From "Storm's Story" in Treating Yourself Magazinewww.georgiatoons.com

Cheryl Shuman.. Survivor and advocate.
Cheryl made history with Ricki Lake and brought legal cannabis products to mainstream daytime television onThe Ricki Lake Show. She's a survivor of stage four ovarian cancer and this fighter is not backing down until everyone understands their right to choose.

Cher Kore.. Aromatherapist.
Owner and Scentstrodinaire of Kameleon Healing Aromatherapy, Cher Kore has taught me so much about Aromatherapy and other natural remedies that I use everyday. Local to Boston, Cher is a contributer at FreeMassMedia.com where she blogs about new approaches to alternative healing.

See the actual LINK here: http://www.mikecann.net/2013/01/women-leading-in-alternative-medicine_10.html

I had the pleasure on the weekend to draw for this lovely little lady ;-). I have been paying close attention ever since I read; Mykayla's mom decided to get her daughter a prescription for Cannabis  to help her daughter who is suffering from Leukemia.  I remember, I was pissed because someone said - "that didn't take her long" soon after learning her daughter had Leukemia .
                            Knowing what I know now, I would be in line the next hour.

I wrote about her before - when It started in the news people whould make - RUDE, un-educated comments regarding moms decision. But that is exactly what they are - and we must remember this, with decades of reefer madness pummeled into our brains. 
No one, especially another parent - who understands the circumstance would dare to differ. Either way I would RESPECT their choice. 
 
WHO is anyone to say what these parents should or should not do when it comes to the decision of their child? Most parents I know would die for their children (I  know I would) and we want to do what we believe is best for them. Cannabis for seriously ill children in my opinion should be the first CHOICE!  Especially, when we read kids are being prescribed OXY as young as 6.  

Mykayla was on the television show Ricki Lake -  you can watch it here: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsNd85kQwMM&feature=player_embedded
It is about time that this is reaching main stream!  The more people that know the more can help. What this little girl must endure - Cannabis I pray, will help her and make this experience as pleasant as it can possibly can be. There are too many children who are already going through treatment that makes them terribly ill. 
Cannabis can make them feel normal. I know - and am amazed myself how it works for nausea! AND it makes them feel better!!!! There is nothing wrong with feeling good!

Pain - I see everyday living proof (thank God)  on how amazing cannabis is for pain. 
I see it to the point I sit here now defending a plant.  ;-) 
I am so proud of these parents and the many more that are starting to speak up and speak out! No one has the right to tell us how to care for our children or pump them with pills.
Dr.s,  DO NOT know everything - they are learning also - I remember being a kid at the Dr.s looking at his huge crystal ashtray on his desk full of butts!   That was then.... 
WE are all here to learn. No ONE is an exception.
Here is how they make Mykayla her medicine:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TRc99VhHRY&feature=player_embedded
To learn more and read about Mykayla, check out their  web page:http://www.bravemykayla.com/  
also on FB:  https://www.facebook.com/BraveMyKayla?fref=ts

 - perhaps you know someone who is dealing with the same thing.
SHARE! You could help save a life, ease pain  and correct a HUGE injustice done to too many over this plant. Cannabis.
Please go show them some love and support if only in your mind! It is a start!

As you might guess I went through several emotions doing this drawing,  I did allot of thinking about what they're actually dealing with daily, mentally, physically, financially.. it starts to feel like a HUGE weight on your back you have no idea....    then    - click - 
you look over into the eyes of your child and none of it matters.  NONE.
You will give it all away to keep the love of your child. 

Let me start today's guest blog by saying that I in fact, have the opposite of the blog you are about to read. I have been blessed with an incredible Dr. who has always taken the time, asked questions, listened and made decisions based on how we both felt about what is ever going on.   I have a couple of terrific Dr.s - I am blessed, BUT I am no stranger to the treatment of others from time to time and I hear the stories from almost everyone we talk to. 
Waiting HOURS to see your Dr., rushed appointments, confusion & of course Dr.s who will NOT EVEN discuss Cannabis as an option. 
It can be cold and uncaring experience at a time when we NEED care & compassion most.  I have read several of Blains Blogs  - a common thread has brought us together- some of his blogs I don't always agree with but there are people that do and we ALL need to be heard to solve this problem that has been going on for far too long. 
Blain and I have exchanged a few e mail and he is always polite, interesting and expressive- and has a lot to say - that come with experience and he has it. He also has a flair with words. 

M.D.?  Medical Doctor? = Mental Defective? = 
Morally Destitute? 

Character
Trustworthiness. Respect. Responsibility. Fairness. Caring. Citizenship.

The Six Pillars of Character are ethical values to guide our choices. The standards of conduct that arise out of those values constitute the ground rules of ethics, and therefore of ethical decision-making. 

Doctors! Who are they?
The Canadian Medical Association represents the 67000 modern doctors practicing in Canada. To introduce you to my concept of what Medical Practice should be, I’m simply going to compare the conduct of the majority of those members, to that of just one man of character, a real Doctor, still in practice at the beginning of the decline. His name was Dr. T.W.E. Henry and he was the local physician in Ft. Saskatchewan, Alberta where I grew up. At that time the town was about pop. 250 and we were a community who considered him next to Jesus for his Samaritan conduct, common sense and good advice. 

Dr. Henry was the center of our social system, he was trusted above all others and he knew every secret and personal detail about every one of his flock. He was a part of every family in town and often if he happened to make a house call at lunch or tea time he would stop for a coffee or to share a meal and take the time to get updated on the family history. He was a skilled interrogator and asked personal questions in such a manner that he created a desire to answer because he would understand and never condemn.

One evening near Christmas I and my family were visiting and just as supper hit the table TWE got a call and he was needed by a sick child. 10-15 degrees below zero, snowing like hell, winds harsh and gusty, driving clouds of icy particles that skin your face like sandpaper. No bloody way I was going out in that! Not!

Blaine! Get with it! I might need a push and you’re it! Crap: on with all the layers, boots, scarves, gloves! All the bulky crap that make wading though powder snow like wading through a swamp and then the open door and Holy Shit its nasty out here. Naturally the damned car won’t start so I harness the team, hook up his runabout sleigh, load the old fart up grab the reins and off we go into nowhere.

You don’t really drive horses in a blizzard: you just sort of aim them and trust them to figure out where the center of the road is. You just sit there and squint and squint trying to pick out landmarks in the little gaps between white sheets of snow. Fortunately it was a straight 5 mile run and only took about an hour and a half to get to the destination.

Modern people have no idea what kind of rotten conditions a lot of poor farm families lived in the 50’s. This was one such family and they were toughing out the blizzard in a two room clapboards shack heated by two stoves, one in the kitchen and a barrel type wood stove in the main room. Unless you have felt it you cannot imagine the drafts in a shack built of planks, you don’t know how cold the air is inside a house with iced up single pane windows. Stand next to one and suddenly your arm is radiated with cold from the glass.

It was a little guy about three and he was sick, you knew he was simply by looking. I don’t know what was wrong but after a long examination by TWE he was given a tablespoon of some syrup, handed back to his mother and she was told that he didn’t think it was serious but he’d like that fever to break. “Take that goose grease you have on the front stove warmer, warm him up, rub him down with it then wrap him up in that flannel blanket and put him to bed. He’s already so tired he’ll fall asleep quickly. He should feel better in the morning but if he doesn’t give me a call and we’ll take care of it.”

We got ready to leave and the husband came over to TWE and explained they were a little short on cash, would he take a couple of chickens as payment. TWE simply told him “John you’ll need them more than I do right now. Tell you what you’re good with a hammer and saw. Come over when the weather gets good in the spring and I’ve got a back porch that needs some repair. What do you say to an Even Steven deal?” John simply looked at him and I thought he would cry, but he just swallowed hard, nodded his agreement and shook TWE’s hand. We left

That was one example of his character at work: it is also the reason why he represents the best aspects of the generations of his predecessors. His position as a respected and admired man of character made him worthy to bear the title Doctor

Once again to stress: The Six Pillars of Character are ethical values to guide our choices. The standards of conduct that arise out of those values constitute the ground rules of ethics, and therefore of ethical decision-making. 

Cannabis has been prescribed by Doctors, Medicine men, Shamans for now 4800 years. For 4750 of those years this medication was freely prescribed by a person of trust who had the best interest of the patient in mind. The witch doctor was trusted because he knew every aspect of his patient’s life. He was part of a tight community that no longer exists, and his reward was not financial gain at patient expense but a position of respect and trust far above that of any other profession. The current crop of medicine men, and I call them that because they do not deserve the title of Doctor, are simply skilled technicians who lack the moral and ethical quality to earn the respect they are granted as physicians.

From that point in the past, we fast forward to the present and it is only men of my age has the knowledge of what the title Doctor Represents in terms of how it is earned and expects little from his current Physician. We knew a Model for Comparison and there is no Expectation of Samaritan acts that demonstrate the qualities inherent in the 6 Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness. Respect. Responsibility. Fairness. Caring. Citizenship. These have been lost by the Profession.

The Destruction of Ethical Medical Practice
The practice of medicine has gradually changed into a commercially structured and oriented system designed to derive maximum profit. This was created from the sheer volume of patients that became available as a result of post WWII urbanization. Instead of a couple of dozen or hundred patients in his community, every doctor had a chance to bag any number of visits from the occupants of the hundreds of tenements surrounding them. 

Appointments got shorter and further apart separated by many intruding and competing strangers’ entries into a doctor’s capacity to remember his diagnosis and previous treatment for the new volume of patients. Thus came into being the Personal Medical Record to serve as a reminder when a physician’s memory failed. The natural result was simple neglect to bother to remember Mickey Mouse details: a one minute skim of the patent’s last visit began to serve as the entire content of a physician’s knowledge of his patient. There began the complete lack of empathy now apparent in the profession at large and its absence was accompanied by the eventual loss of all character from the profession. That is simple fact.

A modern day patient with any problem needing medical attention assumes that when they make an appointment with their physician they are going to see a Doctor. They are not: they are making an appointment with an M.D. (Medical Doctor) a university graduate who had the minimal qualification to join a College of Physicians with lack standards and qualify to open an office. 

His first act after qualification to practice was not to do Samaritan work at the local shelters, but rather, a call to his lawyer and accountant and to approve the creation of his new practice, Dr. False Front, MD, Inc. Shyster and BeanCounter  Consulting already had the necessary plans approved, the forms got filed and the fees got paid. From this point on the man across the desk; the MD in the modern medical office, presents himself as worthy to wear the honorific title Doctor and expects all the respect and trust due him for a title based on Character. He is actually talking to President CEO of the TYMAR Corp acting as the sucker mechanism for the TakeYourMoneyAndRun machine.

To clarify the difference between a Doctor and President, MD, only one simple comparison is required. Imagine wandering down a deserted wasteland road and encountering a man with a severe wound needing medical help. His wound is not fatal but without treatment soon will be if not helped. How would each react to that situation? 
I think: 
The Doctor would stop, assess the situation, accept the man as a a patient, pack the wound, stop the bleeding and then arrange for his care until recovery.

The President, MD would stop, frisk the man to see if he had the cash or credit to pay for treatment, if not kick him in the ditch. It would probably never occur to him to call an ambulance to get charity involved. That would take too much time and he already had a cash customer waiting for the sales pitch. “Sorry. I can’t be bothered guy, die in peace.

If I am disillusioned it is rightfully so. The machine has no recognition of the patient, only his symptoms are used to maximize the medical billing opportunities and tap them all. Office visits = Prescriptions benefits = repeat = referral to higher priced care of specialists= over-reliance on technology= excess testing = everybody happy and rich = CMA.

The President, MD across the desk does not know his patents, has no idea how they live, or anything about them beyond their ability to pay and the chart details of the last visit.  They do not want to know or be bothered by their patients outside of Office Hours. They move in invisible circles away from the common herd, superior circles by virtue of greed! Away from the place of business they do not exist and cannot be found. They have no addresses, unlisted home phones, and undisclosed and rigidly guarded e-mail. They long ago abandoned house calla and after hour phone calls are answered by recorded direction to go to emergency.

Suddenly the majority of these 67000 MD’s fly in the face of common sense and are balking at allowing Medical Cannabis, and its benefits, on the basis that they don’t have sufficient knowledge of the long term harmful effects of smoking it.

Bullshit! They discount 4750 years of testimonial evidence passed down by all the preceding generations of real Doctors who freely advocated it for its curative power and lack of risk in its use.
Bullshit!

Today’s Doctors all claim to honour what was the primary tenet of the Hippocratic Oath: “FIRST, DO NO HARM”. Nobody reveals that this guiding principle has been removed from the Hippocratic Oath Modern Version and has not been replaced by an equivalent prohibition.. 

I find it interesting that given the respect they are sworn to hold for their predecessor’s intelligence, in another part of the oath they dismiss all the traditional knowledge that Cannabis has shown no harm from occasional or even lifelong use. They swear: “I will respect the “hard-won scientific gains” of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow”. 

To claim harm for a product all preceding generations of doctors recommend is to hold their collective intelligence in contempt. To dismiss all of it in favour of the hard-won scientific gains of last 50 years of billing possibility experts, who don’t even know who their patients are, is probably the grossest display of the lack of simple common sense I could have imagined from any profession. They have completely lost touch with the populace they are supposed to be serving.

I hear no outcry from the medical ethics experts: Where are they? because the ethical deficiency list is horrendous! I could keep on ranting forever but I don’t have to. Following is a simple listing of the components of Character from 

Making Ethical Decisions: The Six Pillars of Character

Simply reading the Index is enough to awaken almost anyone to the manifold shortcomings of the Profession. It seems every little word harkens memories of little things noticed that didn’t add up until now

Character:
• Trustworthiness
     - Honesty
     - Integrity
     - Reliability (Promise-keeping)
     - Loyalty
• Respect
     - Civility, Courtesy and Decency
     - Dignity and Autonomy
     - Tolerance and Acceptance
• Responsibility
     - Accountability
     - Pursuit of Excellence
     - Self-Restraint
• Fairness
     - Process
     - Impartiality
     - Equity
• Caring
• Citizenship

Can you smell the rot too?

Blaine Barrett

To read more of Blaines Blog >>>  http://goan-smee.blogspot.ca/
You can e Blaine here: thesmeegoanguy@gmail.com

I know today's hero personally.  Asked to remain as "D" for fear of backlash from others in the industry. This is a shame, I completely understand it.  I have witnessed it over and over again and it must stop.