11. aprillil koguneb Riigikogu sotsiaalkomisjon teist korda arutama kannabinoidravi kättesaadavuse parendamist taotlenud petitsioone, mille mullu esitasid Erakond Eestimaa Rohelised ja Elver Loho. Et argumendid ravi parema kättesaadavuse poolt kõlaksid võimalikult pädevast ja autoriteetsest allikast, on MTÜ Ravikanep koos petitsioonide autoritega kutsunud komisjoni istungile eksperdi — Toronto kannabinoidmeditsiini kliiniku juhi, rohkem kui kaht tuhandet patsienti ravinud dr Michael Verbora. Tema Kanadast Eestisse ja tagasi reisimise kulusid, esinemistasu ja mugavalt majutamise maksumust ei jaksa me aga ise täies ulatuses kanda. Seega palumegi mõttekaaslaste abi.

Rahalisi annetusi, mille selgitusse on kirjutatud „Eksperdi reis“, saab teha MTÜ Ravikanep arvelduskontole nr EE892200221057621978 Swedbank’is. Kui korjandus kujuneb edukaks ja annetusi koguneb enne 31. märtsi rohkem kui dr Verbora visiidi eest tasumiseks tarvis on, s.t rohkem kui 3000 eurot, anname endast kõik, et samale istungile jõuaks veel vähemalt üks kannabinoidravi või selle korralduse valdkonna kogenud spetsialist välisriigist. Omalt poolt oleme „seemneks“ panustanud 500 eurot.

See on Sinu võimalus panna õlg alla muutustele Eesti kannabinoidravi-poliitikas. Isegi kui komisjon keeldub rahuldamast petitsioonis esitatud nõudmisi — lihtsustada kannabinoidravi määramise korda, kaotades osa sellele kehtestatud piirangutest, lõpetada THC ja dronabinooli eksitav topeltklassifitseerimine ning asutada ravikannabinoidide tootmist ja turgu reguleeriv riiklik ravikanepiamet —, kujuneb dr Verbora suguse vaieldamatu eksperdi tunnistus kindlasti oluliseks sammuks edasi patsientide tegelike vajaduste ja õiguste teadvustamise poole parlamendi tasemel. Palun, aita sellele kaasa, kui saad!

* * *

Help bring a medical cannabis expert to Estonia!

On April 11, 2017 the Estonian Parliamentary Commission on Social Affairs will convene for the second time to discuss the petitions to improve access to cannabinoid medicines that were put forth last year by the Estonian Green Party and the independent activist Elver Loho. Estonian Medical Cannabis Association (MTÜ Ravikanep) and the authors of the petitions have invited an expert — Michael Verbora, MBA, MD, Medical Director of Cannabinoid Medical Clinic in Toronto, Canada, with a focused practice in cannabinoid medicine — to give testimony at the Commission, so that arguments for better access would be delivered by a source as competent and authoritative as possible. But since we can’t afford to fully reimburse his travel and accommodation costs, we need the help of like-minded people.

Monetary contributions can be made to the Estonian Medical Cannabis Association’s account at Swedbank Estonia (IBAN: EE892200221057621978, SWIFT/BIC: HABAEE2X, receiver: „MTÜ Ravikanep“). When making the transaction, please write “Expert’s travel costs” in the comment field. Should the fundraising campaign be successful in amassing more funds than the minimum necessary to bring Dr Verbora over by March 31, i.e. more than 3000 Euros, we will do everything in our power to bring at least one more foreign expert in the field of either cannabinoid medicine or medical cannabis related public health management to speak in front of the Commission. To get the campaign started, the Estonian Medical Cannabis Association have already donated 500 Euros.

This is your chance to pitch in and help bring about changes in Estonia’s cannabinoid medicine policy. Even if the Commission refuses to comply with any of our main demands — to make it easier for doctors to prescribe cannabinoid medicines by removing some of the legal restrictions, to end the fallacious double classification of THC and dronabinol into Schedules I and III, respectfully, and to establish a national cannabis bureau to regulate medical cannabis production and sale, as stipulated by the 1961 UN Single Convention —, dr Verbora’s testimony will remain a historic step forward in the fight for the patients’ rights and needs on parliamentary level. Please, donate to help it along, if you can!