Hi there! This is the October/November 2001 edition of Tone newsletter. This issue contains a variety of articles. The newsletter's page is planned to be updated regularly. So come back and see what's new.
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● LEGALIZING THE MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA
● FOR SALE
● ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS FOR SALE
LEGALIZING THE MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA
Over the last couple of years there has been a growing debate over legalizing the medical use of marijuana. The Hon. Allan Rock, the Federal Minister of Health, has shown support for this idea. Many people who are suffering from a variety of conditions believe that they should have access to marijuana to lessen the adverse affects of their conditions. The BC Coalition of People with Disabilities wrote a brief supporting legalizing the medical use of marijuana. For a copy of the policy brief, please contact Val at 604-875-0188 or orders@bccpd.bc.ca or go to the web site at www.bccpd.bc.ca You can fax your endorsement letter to 604-875-9227, Attention: Margaret Birrell or e-mail to orders@bccpd.bc.ca The following is the endorsement letter from the VOICE OF THE CEREBRAL PALSIED OF GREATER VANCOUVER
ENDORSEMENT LETTER
September 14, 2001
Ms. Margaret Birrell Executive Director
BC Coalition of People with Disabilities
#204-456 West Broadway Vancouver, BC V5Y 1R3
Dear Margaret:
I am writing on behalf of the Voice of the Cerebral Palsied of Greater Vancouver (VCP) to support the BCCPD's brief supporting the medical use of marijuana.
We believe that people who are experiencing a variety of conditions, which can possibly be helped by the use of marijuana should have access to it. "Medical use" must be interpreted in the broadest way so that as many people as possible with a variety of conditions can benefit from this treatment option.
By providing access to a safe, secure and affordable supply of marijuana these people will have one more option to use to lessen the adverse effects of their conditions. Therefore, not only must the medical use of marijuana be legalized for these people, but also the supply must be grown in controlled environments to guarantee the quality of the marijuana. Because the marijuana
will be used for medical conditions, it should also be covered by the medical plan so that people on fixed incomes will have access to it just as they have access to other pharmaceutical drugs.
In closing, we urge the government to take the necessary steps to both legalize the medical use of marijuana and guarantee people a safe, secure and affordable supply of it.
Sincerely,
Yoshinori Tanabe
Executive Director.
DANGER TO MOMS
Women who take folic acid before and during pregnancy to reduce the risk of birth defects may increase their chance of having twins, raising potentially greater dangers to health.
Research in Sweden has found that women who take supplements of the vitamin, as recommended by most doctors, are almost twice as likely as normal to give birth to twins.
As multiple pregnancies are more dangerous to both mothers and infants, with greater rates of premature birth, low birth weight and cerebral palsy, the findings suggest that folic acid supplements may carry' health risks as well as benefits.
Scientists at the Tomblad Institute said that their results showed that more work was necessary to assess the effects of folic acid during pregnancy.
The vitamin, which is found in leafy vegetables and some grains, has been known for more than thirty years to reduce the incidence of "neural tube" defects in infants, the most common of which is spina bifida. In America rates of the condition have fallen by 19 per cent since 1998, when it became compulsory for food companies to add folic acid to wholemeal bread and breakfast cereals.
Bengt Kallen, who lead the Swedish research, said it was possible that the vitamin increased the probability of multiple ovulation or helped more than one fertilized egg to implant in the womb.
His study of more than 2,500 women who took folic acid during pregnancy revealed that 2.8 per cent had twins.
Reprinted: from the July 26, 2001 issue of the Province.
FOR SALE
FOR SALE: Wheelchair lift for a car or station wagon. 16 months old. Originally cost $1,350.
Asking price is $900. Contact Mrs. Mahood at 604-266-6075
The VCP is now selling two types of entertainment coupon books. These books are a great value and offer savings on an extensive variety of restaurants, shops, services and recreational activities. We offer an entertainment book for $12 and one for $46. The sale of these books is one of our fundraising activities. When you buy a book you not only help the VCP, you also save money when you use the coupons for goods and services you buy. To purchase a book you can contact us in the following ways: by phone: (604) 874-1741; by fax: (604) 737-9946; and/or by e-mail. vcpgv@vcn.bc.ca
With Christmas approaching, start your shopping early. These books make great gifts!
Editor’s note: The above mentioned booklets may not be available since the Christmas season has passed.
Tone of Voice is the newsletter of The Voice of the Cerebral Palsied of Greater Vancouver (VCP). The views and opinions expressed in the Tone of Voice are not necessarily those of the Board of Directors, The Newsletter Committee, or the Production Staff of the VOICE OF THE CEREBRAL PALSIED OF GREATER VANCOUVER The articles presented herein are meant to be thought-provoking end stimulate dialogue. tone Of Voice is a forum for individual creativity end the generation of ideas from within the Cerebral Palsied community of British Columbia. This is your opportunity to share information and insights end to introduce issues and topics you feel should be brought to the attention of the Cerebral Palsied community and the general public. We invite your comments and criticism of any of the articles published here. We hope that you will contribute articles to share with other readers We want your stories, letters, announcements, poetry graphics and cartoons.
Addresses & Production Staff
Please submit your material to:
The Voice of the Cerebral Palsied of Greater Vancouver
NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE
Suite 103, 577 East 8th Avenue,
Vancouver, B. C.
V5T 1S9
Production:
Chairperson of the Board of Directors - Ted Nelson
Executive Director - Yoshinori Tanabe
Chairperson of the Newsletter Committee - Laurette Yelle
Webmaster - Derek Isobe
Editorship - Newsletter Committee
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