Pubdate: Thu, 10 Jul 2003
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2003 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact:  http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Shannon Montgomery

SICK TO GAIN ACCESS TO FEDERAL POT STASH

Interim Policy Will Allow Sale Of Medicinal Marijuana

A policy announced yesterday will allow seriously ill people access to the 
federal government's medicinal marijuana stash for the first time, even 
while police continue to bust people for growing or dealing the drug illegally.

Under an interim policy announced yesterday, Health Canada will sell bags 
of marijuana seeds and dried marijuana to sick patients who qualify under 
Ottawa's medical marijuana program.

The announcement came on the day an Ontario court judge set as the deadline 
for the federal government to come up with regulations for distributing 
medical marijuana. The judge ruled Ottawa couldn't logically give sick 
people permission to use pot without also providing a legal source of supply.

Health Canada is appealing the ruling and Health Minister Anne McLellan 
hinted the sales program could end quickly if her department wins the appeal.

"It was never the intention for us to provide product," she said in 
Edmonton. "What we wanted to do was in fact determine whether there is 
medicinal benefit in relation to the use of marijuana."

She expressed strong skepticism about the premise of the medical marijuana 
program instituted by her predecessor, Allan Rock. "There have been no 
studies anywhere in the world that have been able to confirm medicinal 
benefit," she said.

The tone of her comments differed from that used by Rock, who said the 
medical marijuana program was based on compassion for people who are 
seriously ill or in discomfort.

The government's marijuana is grown in an underground mine in Flin Flon by 
Prairie Plant Systems.

Its president, Brent Zettl, welcomes yesterday's decision.

"We're happy that the project is actually evolving to the point where 
patients are going to be seeing some of the product. We welcome the news," 
he said.

About 500 people now qualify to use marijuana under the program, but they 
have been required to grow their own pot, designate someone to grow it for 
them or get it on the black market. That was the problem that led the 
Ontario Court of Justice to declare the law unconstitutional and give the 
government six months to fix it.

Health Canada is charging $20 for 20 seeds or $150 for a 30-gram bag of 
dried grass.

To qualify under the medical access program, people must meet detailed 
medical requirements and get the endorsement of a doctor.

Many would-be users haven't been able to qualify.

Winnipeg resident Andy Caisse said he has legally been allowed to possess 
marijuana for about a year and half to treat multiple sclerosis.

"It makes me sleep, and the tremors in my legs, they stop," he said.

Before getting permission to grow the drug, Caisse had to buy it off the 
street.

"Off the street it was a pain because I used to have to send my mother out 
to buy it," he said. Caisse said he doesn't trust the quality of the 
government drug and is content to continue to buy it from his current grower.

"For what they're planning on doing, I wouldn't even go near it. It's too 
weak, for one, and at $5 a gram it would have to be literally garbage."

He said the drug he gets from his designated grower has around 15 per cent 
THC, the active, medicinal ingredient.

Many activists also complained yesterday that most would-be participants 
aren't able to get permission under the medical access program to use the 
drug legally, which means yesterday's decision has very little impact on 
the majority of ill people who use marijuana.

Brant Cosens has been using marijuana to treat multiple sclerosis since he 
was diagnosed in 1978 at the age of 24.

"It provides me with relaxation, stress reduction and anxiety reduction, 
much akin to what is provided by traditional painkillers," he said, adding 
he doesn't think he will ever be able to make it through the system to 
legally obtain the relief he needs.

"For some reason, I feel like a square peg in a round hole," he said. "I've 
given up." -- with files from Canadian Press
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens