Pubdate: Thu, 18 Sep 2003
Source: Kitchener-Waterloo Record (CN ON)
Section: Page A10
Copyright: 2003 Kitchener-Waterloo Record
Contact:  http://www.therecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada)

MEDICAL POT IS IN A HAZE

Unless he can clear the haze, Prime Minister Jean Chretien may have to 
admit that the neo-conservatives got it right. All the scientists, 
bureaucrats and big thinkers on the federal payroll can't produce a product 
as well as the private sector. And, try as they might, all the cabinet 
ministers, press aides and highly paid consultants in Ottawa won't be able 
to hide the truth: The government can't grow pot.

This will come as no surprise to the neo-cons. They don't think governments 
have the ability to bring the members of a one-man band to the same event, 
let alone do something as complicated as produce marijuana.

But Chretien will be shocked by the revelation that Canadians who are 
legally permitted to use marijuana for medicinal purposes have such a low 
opinion of government-grown pot that they are turning in their reefers and 
want their money back. Just when Chretien was revealing his true self and 
his faith in a plethora of government programs, he'll have to acknowledge 
what the tokers are saying.

This news is bound to make Ottawa buzz. There'll be phone calls and 
meetings all around the capital -- and probably a few parties at which 
younger members of the prime minister's staff will have a toke or two, 
purely for research purposes, of course.

Chretien might call his old friend Bill Clinton, who knows something about 
marijuana, even though he did not inhale.

In their desire to enhance respect for government programs as well as to 
supply those who truly do need this drug, the prime minister and the former 
president could agree to form an international joint commission.

Summary - Ottawa's long list of problems now includes bad pot.
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MAP posted-by: Beth