BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE AWAITS MEDICAL-MARIJUANA-USE APPLICANTS

High Riverites wanting to smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes will have
a lot of red tape to cut through before they can start toking up. "It's not
something you just walk in and say 'I want some," said RCMP Sgt. Rick
Oncescu last week. "There are a whole bunch of forms they have to fill out
and get approved.

It's a big process." Oncescu said the High River detachment has received a
bunch of paperwork of their own to help them explain the process to people
who may inquire about getting a medical-marijuana-smoking licence.

As yet, the detachment has not received any inquiries.

Oncescu said those people who qualify to use marijuana for medicinal
purposes will be issued with a special identification card signed by the
government. Under the federal legislation, licensed users can only smoke
marijuana grown at the government-operated facility in Manitoba N no
home-grown or imported pot will be allowed.

However, Oncescu said it is unclear how the police will enforce use of
government-issued grass only. "It is still in the process of being
established," he said. Oncescu added he does not expect there will be many
people applying for the licences locally.