NETHERLANDS CABINET OKS BILL AUTHORIZING PHARMACIES TO SUPPLY MARIJUANA

AMSTERDAM -- The Dutch Cabinet approved a bill Friday that would
allow pharmacies to fill marijuana prescriptions and for the
government to pay for them.

Parliament was expected to vote in the next few months on the
proposal to put medicinal marijuana on the national health care plan.
If the bill is passed by the 150-seat legislature, pharmacies would
be supplied with "pharmaceutical quality" marijuana after testing by
a government agency.

Although the sale of marijuana is technically illegal, Dutch
authorities tolerate the sale of small amounts in hundreds of
so-called "coffee shops" that operate openly. A gram of marijuana
costs about $4.

Under the new law, most users would have the cost of their joints
paid by the government as long as they have a doctor's prescription.