Big pharmaceutical companies and Health Minister Tony Clement have pulled a bold maneuver in the Canadian House of Commons April 8. Introduced as Bill C-51, the statute proposes sweeping amendments to the Food and Drugs Act that would put natural health products under far tighter regulations and prevent a majority of plant-derived substances from ever making the marketplace. These unapproved natural health products would become illegal, and those in possession would face prison terms of up to two years and fines up to a whopping $5 million.
Bill C-51 would also grant new “enforcement” powers against suspects of said natural health supplements, including the unchallenged authority to raid homes or businesses without a warrant, seize bank accounts and confiscate property.
How will Big Pharma enable this Orwellian law and essentially crush the alternative medicine industry? Through a simple word switch. Big Pharma wants the controlled narcotics and synthetic concoctions they peddle not to be called “drugs” anymore (a word burdened with negative connotations), but rather the gentler term “therapeutic product”. With this single, clever change in terminology, prescription drugs instantly become more benign sounding - and products that are currently “therapeutic” (generally anything plant-derived) become subject to the much stricter Food and Drug Act. A dramatically higher failure rate of natural-product license applications will inevitably result.
Forget about good old fashioned marketing; the pharmaceutical industry will change their image and annihilate their competition using the Canadian government!
I’d like to share the email a long time friend sent me regarding Bill C-51, because she puts the issue in a very accessible and human context:
If I may, let me tell you my story. In 1990, I had a son and gave him up for adoption. Within weeks of his birth I became deeply depressed and spent the majority of my time sleeping. At the encouragement of my mother I went to a doctor. I was diagnosed with Manic Depression (now known as Bi-Polar Affective Disorder ) and given a prescription for Prozac. Trusting my doctor I took the prescription for months. For those who have ever taken this medication or any other like it, you know how it feels. Its like living in a glass bubble. You don’t feel depressed anymore, yes, but it affects many other parts of your emotional world. It affects your ability to feel and enjoy true happiness. It was a temporary fix to a long term health problem. After 8 months on Prozac I attempted to take my own life. (A common side effect of prozac)
Thankfully I did not succeed. I removed myself from the medication but after a short period was placed on Luvox. After several months this too lost its effectiveness. Putting my mental health in a constant yo-yo. After trying other medications and only finding temporary relief I removed myself from all medications and while my knowledge was very limited I had short term success.
After I had married and had three children my depression came back with a vengeance and I found myself very ill. My husband was always afraid of what he would come home to at the end of his day. It began to worsen and then my mind became obsessed with suicide as the only option to rid myself of this illness. It was at that point I met Tony Stephan who introduced me to TrueHope. It is a vitamin and mineral supplement which helps to feed the body and especially the central nervous system. Their company was just beginning and I tried many different supplements. Some with great efficacy, others not as much. But altogether much better results than any medication ever gave me. After many years of TRUE Research, Double blind Studies, clinical tests with doctors by their sides, and animal research through the University of Lethbridges Dr. Brian Kolb; TrueHope found a formulation that has been consistent and had amazing results. I have been taking their supplement for many years and had amazing success.
My life has been given to me, in fact better than any quality of life I had before. I have since had two more children. My last child was born in September of 2005 and I suffered no Post partum Depression and have been able to accomplish so much with my time and energy. I have felt joy and Happiness I never imagined possible. My children have a happy healthy mother. Our home is one where we enjoy each other’s company. My children do not live in fear of their mother. I get up every morning ready to accomplish what stands before me. I have normal sadness and normal happiness. Not extremes! O
STORY HERE