POT DECISION TRULY CANADIAN

Canada, throughout its short history, has for the most part always been
known to take the via media, the middle road, the peaceful, compromising way.

There is no irony then as a government vehicle in Manitoba slowly snakes
down through the dark silence of an old mine shaft to a hydroponic
laboratory. The lab is situated deep in rock, hundreds of metres below the
surface.

With security guards positioned in all the right places, green plants rise
under grow lights. Their growth is quick and tall, like a weed, you might say.

This is Canada's only legal marijuana growing operation.

As autumn approaches, harvesters in this deep cavern hundreds of kilometres
north of Winnipeg will begin to pick marijuana buds for tests that will
determine their potency. After some clinical trials, the weed will be made
available in late winter to people suffering from serious diseases who want
to use it as a pain reliever.

Canada's new medicinal marijuana policy, which came into effect last week,
allows people who have been granted an exemption from narcotics laws to
possess pot and grow it or have someone grow it for them.

The changing of laws and initiating new ones began in earnest in July 2000
when the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld a lower court decision striking
down prohibition on possessing marijuana in the case of Terrence Parker, an
epileptic who used the drug for pain relief.

Throughout all this the eyes of the world have been upon us as we magically
transform the devil weed into respectable medicine.

The U.S. is particularly curious. There, a person can be sent to jail for a
year for possession of a marijuana and five years for growing a plant.
Medicinal purposes for the plant are on no public drawing boards.

Health Minister Allan Rock said he isn't worried Canada's liberal medicinal
marijuana policy might draw the wrath of the President George W. Bush's
administration.

He said in time and with further research other governments around the
world will probably follow Canada's lead.

"We are Canadians. We have made our own judgment. We are reflecting our own
values. I will look first to Canadian needs and interests rather than the
opinions of others around the world."

In Canada the policy to use marijuana to help people suffering chronic pain
is based on logic and common sense. It is reflected in Canadians'
compassion for the suffering.

In most parts of the world sufferers of pain turn to medical morphine or
medical heroin. The question Canadians asked is, why not medical marijuana?

Why not? And so we did.