HOME-GROWN MEDI-JUANA COULD GET OK

Marijuana could become the legal cash-crop of choice in the Boundary.

Last Wednesday, federal Health Minister Allan Rock announced regulations
governing possession and production of medical marijuana have been
approved. Essentially, as of July 30 qualifiers will be able to use and
grow specific amounts of the drug to relieve pain. Those who do not wish to
grow their own can appoint someone to grow it for them, creating the
opportunity for a whole new kind of local industry.

Medical marijuana users will fall into three main categories ranging from
terminal patients, chronic pain sufferers and special users who will
require the endorsement of two separate specialists.

Local medical marijuana advocate Brian Taylor says Rock's decision is a
huge step in the right direction but users must follow the rules and learn
to cooperate with the RCMP.

"They're making this a patient-driven system which means instead of forms
filled out by doctors, the process has been streamlined to the point where
people can take the forms off the government website and fill them out
themselves, saving time and money and enabling this thing to work," Taylor
says.

The former Grand Forks mayor is also suggesting anyone who has been granted
a permit to grow should contact the local police detachment and inform its
members of the number of plants inside the grower's home.

"This is going to be a sticky situation and it's going to be very hard for
the RCMP but locally they're doing a great job and hopefully everyone can
work together," says Taylor, who stands to profit from the federal
announcement through the sale of state-of-the-art home grow units.

However, Rock's decision has not been received without substantial
opposition. One of the most notable opponents thus far has been former
Canadian Medical Association president Dr. Hugh Scully.

In a recent news release Scully attacked the decision, suggesting a lack of
comprehensive and credible evidence on the benefits of the known and
unknown effects of marijuana's use when smoked and the unregulated supply,
quality, consistency and contamination of the drug should make consent
granted by a physician impossible.

"We acknowledge the unique requirements of those individuals suffering from
a terminal illness or chronic disease for which conventional therapies have
not been effective. However, the CMA believes that it is premature for
Health Canada to expand broadly the medicinal use of marijuana before there
is adequate scientific support," Scully said following Rock's decision.