POT RULES DOPEY

New Decree Won't Help Sick: Activist

OTTAWA -- Health Minister Allan Rock's new plan to help the sick and
dying get pot to ease their pain isn't going to help very many
people, says the leader of the Marijuana Party.

Marc "Boris" St-Maurice, who is charged with trafficking after
marijuana was sold to a group of ailing Montrealers last year, said
the plan is too complicated.

"By the time it's all figured out, the patient might be dead,"
St-Maurice said. "I'm not impressed."

Rock unveiled his plan on Friday, opening the door for those
suffering from AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and even
severe arthritis to smoke pot to ease their pain -- with a doctor's
approval. The regulations, which come into effect in July, will
license users to possess and cultivate marijuana or allow them to
designate someone else to grow it for them.

Rock said the regulations are aimed at individuals and not legalizing
"compassion clubs," where pot is distributed to the sick.

"Patients are not going to like it. It's going to put a lot of strain
on the doctors to meet all these requirements. A lot of doctors are
going to be turned off," St-Maurice said.