Pubdate: Tue, 14 Dec 1999
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 1999 Southam Inc.
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Author: Jane Taber, Ottawa Citizen

OTTAWA TO DISTRIBUTE NEARLY 1M MEDICINAL MARIJUANA CIGARETTES

Health Canada is planning to distribute nearly one million marijuana
cigarettes over a five-year period to ailing Canadians and medical
researchers studying the medicinal value of pot, according to a
confidential government document.

The 28-page Statement of Work for the Development of a Comprehensive
Operation for the Cultivation and Fabrication of Marijuana in Canada sets
out the business framework for a Canadian supplier to the federal
government for medical marijuana -- in other words, an official dope
dealer. Health Canada will supply the seeds to begin growing and a
"Qualified Person In Charge of Narcotic, Controlled and/or Restricted Drug
Transactions (QPIC)" would have to be hired. This person would have to be a
university graduate in an area such as pharmacology and "be of good
character."

"The purpose of this project is to provide for Health Canada a reliable
source of affordable, quality, standardized marijuana products to meet the
needs of exemption recipients and of researchers in this country and
abroad," states the introductory overview of the draft document, written
Nov. 30.

Health Canada, according to the document, "will contribute up to
$1.5-million per year for investment in clinical, basic and applied
research on marijuana and cannabinoids over a five-year period." Neither
Allan Rock, the Health Minister, nor his department will comment on the
document because it has not been finalized. However, Lynn LeSage, a
department spokeswoman, said Health Canada "is looking at options to
provide a safe supply" of marijuana.

Mr. Rock has stated he is committed to finding a Canadian supplier for the
drug. So far, he has allowed 16 Canadians suffering from serious illnesses
such as AIDS to legally smoke marijuana to help alleviate some of the
painful and debilitating symptoms.

Mr. Rock has never said whether the growing of medical marijuana would be
done by a government agency or private supplier, but it appears from this
document that the government is leaning toward a private source.

The draft plan stipulates that 100,000 marijuana cigarettes with THC (the
ingredient that makes the user high) content of between 4% and 6% would be
required for distribution in the first year of the project.

In years two to five, the plan requires that amount be upped to 200,000
cigarettes. Indeed, the draft plan calls for 325 kilograms of "bulk
processed marijuana" with THC contents varying between zero and 6% to be in
storage for other testing.

Corporations or individuals can become "licensed dealers" under this
business plan.
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