Pubdate: Sat, 07 Apr 2001
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2001 Calgary Herald
Contact:  http://www.calgaryherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Jeremy Hainsworth,  Calgary Herald and the Canadian Press

ACTIVIST CALLS MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW 'WHITEWASH'

Calgary marijuana crusader Grant Krieger says the federal government's move 
to codify who can use marijuana for medicinal purposes is just smoke.

"This is just a whitewash for the Canadian public," Krieger said of the 
rules announced Friday by Health Minister Allan Rock which will allow 
people to legally possess and smoke marijuana legally if they can prove 
they can't be treated with other drugs.

The measures will also allow the government to license third parties to 
grow marijuana for individual sufferers who can't grow it for themselves.

"They're setting up their own racket with no benefit except for a waste of 
taxpayer's money," Krieger said.

He suggested government-produced marijuana would be a "substandard 
product.  It's like serving low-calorie beer (compared) to five-per-cent beer."

The long-awaited regulations on medicinal marijuana allow  terminal 
patients, people with AIDS, multiple sclerosis, spinal-cord injuries, 
epilepsy, severe arthritis and other serious conditions to use the drug if 
it eases their symptoms.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart