Cannabis Tax Petition Gains Momentum Through Diverse Support

OTTAWA, March 14, 2016 /CNW/ - Almost 7,000 Canadians who share the view that medical cannabis should not be subject to taxation have signed a petition in Parliament urging the federal government to address the unjust tax burden medical cannabis users pay on a daily basis.

With broad support from non-government organizations in the health sector, compassion clubs, marijuana dispensaries, clinics, and federally licensed producers, Petition e-190 has galvanized all corners of a diverse industry. The petition is open for signature until June 14, 2016.

At present, cannabis is the only physician-authorized medicine subject to sales tax. Without insurance coverage, patients already pay for their medication out of pocket. Adding another cost is a prohibitive barrier that affects Canadians' ability to choose the medical therapy that best manages their symptoms.

"The diversity of the organizations promoting this petition shows how important this issue is," said Hilary Black, the petition's founder. "There is a very simple fix and I hope our new federal government will act swiftly to treat cannabis the same way it treats other prescription medications."

Organizations supporting this effort are as diverse as the Canadians who are prescribed marijuana by their doctors. These organizations proudly include:

Dravet Syndrome Foundation 
BC Compassion Club Society
Emerald Health Botanicals
Canadians for Fair Access to Medical Marijuana
Bedrocan Canada
Canadian AIDS Society
Broken Coast Cannabis
The Arthritis Society
Medical Cannabis Patients' Alliance
Chronic Pain Association of Canada
ACTION Atlantic 
Greenleaf Medical Clinic
Tweed
Canadian Association of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries
Sunrise Wellness Foundation
Village Dispensary
Santé Cannabis Clinic
Cannabo 
Canvas RX
Organigram
Aurora
Emblem Cannabis
Maricann

SOURCE Joint Communiqué

Hilary Black, 778-986-8842