The "best" solution is to carry around the legal document like I already said. Anything else is not worth the paper it is printed on.

You, some of you, make it sound like the license is somehow larger than a piece of paper that can fold up and be tucked into a wallet or purse. If you think that this piece of paper weighs ten pounds and is like having a 3 foot 2x4 in your wallet I can see the issue you are having.

Maybe you should think of it as a lovely and light-weight piece of paper that you are happy to carry with you because it identifies you as a legal medical user and gives you a lot more rights than the next guy standing next to you without a license. Maybe the document will lighten up a little and be easier to carry around until HC gets a better solution.

In the mean time, if your document gets torn or compromised then apply for a replacement clearly stating the issue AND return the tattered document when asked so they can see what happened in your wallet.

Health Canada needs to be shown the problem with issuing license in this manner. If everyone takes a copy and carries the copies around and only bitching here about it then HC will never know that there is an issue.

If patients would use the license as issued and then reapply for a new one every time it wore out then they (HC) would be forced to find a better solution and maybe we could all go back to the convenience card....which by the way is not any smaller than my folded up license, yes it is slightly thicker but it doesn't cause me any more issues than the card did, or did not.

The copy (in your records) is in case something catastrophic happens to your license, such as fire or theft, and will serve to identify you until a valid license can arrive to replace it but I would think you would need a very good reason to be using a photo copy of such an important document.

For those insisting a copy will do, you do as you like for yourself but please don't pass along your "wisdom" to others as you may get them into trouble they weren't asking for.


cannagirl

This is the only option HC allows



I carried mine around, folded and in my wallet for approximately 2 weeks, you know what happened to it in those two weeks? Being simply folded and sat on in my wallet the whole time?

Letters started sticking to other sides of the paper, corners were showing holes, IMPORTANT DATA COMPROMISED!!! It has nothing to do with it's size, and everything to do with what we have to do to it JUST to have it on our person.


Again, it's not the size or weight of it, it's what needs to be done to it just to make it of the size required to have it on our person, and what having to do causes in the long run to a simple piece of paper.


This isn't news that paper cannot handle that kind of abuse, so for them to somehow expect it is completely unrealistic in every way possible.

They are fully aware that paper will do this, I spoke to them this morning about it, explained why I think having the original legal size document on you at all times is absurd, especially if you're a male, and she essentially said they don't care... So don't expect a change to happen on their end, my advice, personally, is change it on your end.

If a cop should be so bold as to attempt to penalize you, take the matter to court, show the judge how ridiculous it is to have a piece of paper you have to fold and then later gets destroyed through ware and tare from simply being in your wallet. HC isn't going to take the steps to make the changes, that's in our hands.

I myself have personally gone through 2 copies of my MMAR form simply because of ware and tare in my wallet, I keep my original at home, I've only had my MMAR since February of this year, how many times do we have to get a new PER yearly authorization?



So for anyone who wants to know about the photocopy, legally, your not allowed, and it may cause you problem, but IMO, who cares... I'm the kind of person that will fight to the bitter end for shit I believe in, and this is complete BS.

So I guess it comes down to personal preference, you can follow the rules, or try to change them.

Actually a certified copy of an original document by a notary is legally just as good as an original. A notary is a government official, and has that power.

Being a girl and carrying a folded up piece of paper in your purse might be practical, but for a guy with a small little wallet that goes in your back pocket, with me anyway, space is pretty valuable, not to mention the wear and tear. Like PharOG said, I also have had a piece of paper in my wallet before, it didnt take long before it wasnt even legible!

Yes and one trip in the washing machine and it's game over so I have found out

OUCH! Put the OR. in a safe carry the copy any lawyer worth his salt could get you out of any trouble that causes.

I agree. I think getting it notorized would be sufficent enough.