Health Canada Sending Collection Agencies after Delinquent Medical Pot Users

Published on:
12 September 2006 at 10:20 a.m. ET

Written by: Unknown Author –

http://www.insidearm.com/news/00006434-health-canada-sending-collection-agencies/

By Dean Beeby, Canadian Press

Like any dope dealer, Health Canada has its share of marijuana customers who just don’t pay their bills.

But unlike street pushers, the department avoids tire irons and switchblades to recover its bad debts in favour of stern letters and collection agencies.

As of last month, 127 people authorized to buy government-certified marijuana for various medical problems were officially in arrears, with bills unpaid for more than 90 days.

That’s almost half the 278 patients who currently receive Health Canada marijuana or seeds, most of them buying 30-gram bags of ground buds for $150. A package of 30 seeds goes for $20.

Altogether, patients in arrears now owe $168,879 to Health Canada for medical marijuana, produced on contract by Prairie Plant Systems Inc. for the federal government.

For this complete story, please visit Health Canada going after medical pot users for almost $170,000 in bad debts.