VANCOUVER

Changes in medical marijuana laws are coming as the federal government gets out of the weed business.

At a press conference Sunday, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced proposed changes to Health Canada’s medical marijuana program. The new rules are expected to save the federal government $478 million over the next 10 years.

“Grow operations have led to public heath, safety and security concerns,” Aglukkaq said, explaining the rationale for the new proposal. “The cost to taxpayers has become sustainable.

"A new approach is being recommended that will balance the needs of participants with public health and security concerns. Once this system is in place Health Canada will no longer produce and distribute marijuana for medical purposes.”

The biggest change is how patients will obtain their medicinal marijuana. Nurse practitioners will now be allowed to prescribe it to patients, but self-production is eliminated.

“Home production will be phased out and only facilities that meet our new strict security requirements will be able to produce marijuana for medical purposes,” Aglukkaq said.

The main concern from a patient's perspective still remains access. They will no longer be allowed to grow their own for personal use and many experts predict that the new regulations will raise the price of medical marijuana.

At present the government subsidizes the cost with a gram costing $5. Under the new regulations prices are expected to rise to a minimum of $8.80 per gram.

“Many of the patients are on disability,” explained Dave Douglas, activist and founder of the 420 Market – a pot bazaar in east Vancouver.

“They can’t afford full price for their meds. But under the new rules only designated growers will be licensed and individuals won’t be able to grow their own. They’ll now be forced to buy their medication at much higher rates.”

Some patients are now allowed to grow for themselves or license someone to grow it on their behalf, ensuring costs are minimal. Under the new proposal they will be forced to purchase commercially like everyone else, massively increasing their monthly costs.

Currently Douglas is allowed to buy up to 20 grams daily. At $8.80 per gram that means a new monthly cost of $5,280.

Disability rates for a single individual are $906 per month.