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Technically, this process goes against Health Canada regulations.

“Financially, it’s draining,” McKnight said. “If we were getting an extraction from a licensed producer, it wouldn’t cost nearly this much. I don’t even know how long we’re going to be able to sustain this.”

Adam Greenblatt, the executive director of the cannabis access society, said he believes that as many as 60% or 70% of medical marijuana users would use derivative products if they could legally buy them.

“There’s a huge need for these derivative products,” he said, speculating there could even be special prescriptions for the products were they standardized. “It’s up to Health Canada to get with the times.”

Isaac Oommen, who works at British Columbia’s Compassion Club Society, a cannabis advocacy organization, said that of their roughly 9,700 members, at least 30% use derivative products such as edibles, oils or tinctures.

About 60% of incoming members are patients over the age of 65, and among them, at least 80% or 90% are interested in using those types of products, he said.

@BedrocanCda Cannabis is giving back a quality of life we haven't seen in years #bedrolitesavesliveshttp://t.co/q7yVGttRTi —

Liam's Army (@liamsdravetarmy) July 07, 2014

In 2012, the B.C. Supreme Court ruled that people should be allowed to make their own oils, butters, baked goods and lotions using cannabis, and that designated producers should be able to provide patients with the same. But the new regulations that came into effect in April mean the case is going back to court.

If the court ruling is found to still stand up under the new regulations, the government would be essentially forced to rewrite those rules, Greenblatt said.

For McKnight, who runs a Facebook page to raise awareness about Liam’s condition, it’s a matter of common sense.

“I really hope that somebody at Health Canada or somebody in this government just finally stands up and says, ‘OK, this is ridiculous. We need to help these kids.’ ”

Health Canada did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.