MEDICAL MYOPIA

They battled the police, prosecutors and politicians - and won.

Now patients who use marijuana for medicinal purposes face a new foe: the
medical lobby.

The Canadian Medical Association has come out against Ottawa's decision to
allow individuals who are terminally ill or suffer chronic pain to grow and
use marijuana.

"The CMA believes that it is premature for Health Canada to expand broadly
the medicinal use of marijuana before there is adequate scientific
support," said Dr. Hugh Scully, past president of the association.

Dr. Ken Sky, who heads the Ontario Medical Association, says he would not
prescribe marijuana to any of his patients.

He is urging Ottawa to allow more time for research before making the drug
more accessible.

More research would certainly be useful. But unless these doctors have
evidence that marijuana is harmful to patients seeking relief from the
debilitating symptoms of AIDS, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy or cancer, it
is hard to understand their opposition.

Clearly, the individuals who have applied to grow and use cannabis believe
it alleviates their suffering. There is no significant public danger. There
are many drugs with more severe side effects in every pharmacy.

Health Minister Allan Rock should stay the course. He has struck the right
balance between compassion and prudence.

It would be wrong to turn back the clock and inhumane to take away the
relief that medical marijuana users fought so hard to get.