Pubdate: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 1999 Calgary Herald Contact: P.O. Box 2400, Stn. M, Calgary, Alberta T2P 0W8 Fax: (403) 235-7379 Website: http://www.calgaryherald.com/ Forum: http://forums.canada.com/~calgary Section: News A1 / Front HEALTH CANADA LOOKING TO SCORE POT 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. The official dealer would have to explain the techniques used to roll and moisten the joint. Health Canada would supply the seeds and a ` Qualified Person In Charge of Narcotic, Controlled and/or Restricted Drug Transactions (QPIC)' would have to be hired. The QPIC 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,'' according to the introductory overview of the draft document, written Nov. 30. Calgary pot crusader Grant Krieger remained cynical about the government's objectives, and said the decision doesn't change his intention to cultivate his own medicinal marijuana once his legal troubles have been settled. `There's no way I'd use government-grown marijuana,' he said. Krieger, 45, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, was arrested in August after police went to his home to charge him with a breach of probation stemming from a prior trafficking conviction and cultivation. His case will be heard April 17 in a Court of Queen's Bench. According to the government document, Health Canada ``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 Health Minister Allan Rock nor his department will comment on this document because it has not been finalized. However, Health Canada's Lynn LeSage said "the department is looking at options to provide a safe supply" of marijuana. Rock has also stated he is committed to finding a Canadian supplier for the drug - an announcement is expected soon. So far, he has allowed 16 Canadians suffering from serious illnesses such as AIDS and cancer to legally smoke marijuana to help alleviate some of the painful and debilitating symptoms and side-effects that result from treatments for the diseases, such as nausea from chemotherapy. 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. Health Canada is breaking new ground in its approach to marijuana. In fact, the document says ``marijuana is not approved as a therapeutic product in any country.'' As well, there have been few clinical trials as to its use for medicinal purposes; all information, so far, is anecdotal. - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck