CANADA ISSUES PLAN ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Patients Have To Show Drug's Benefits

The Canadian government today proposed rules that would allow terminally
ill patients and people suffering from chronic illnesses such as arthritis
and AIDS to buy, cultivate and use marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Under the plan, which would go into effect July 31, the patients would have
to prove to authorities that only marijuana could ease their suffering. The
rules would allow third parties to grow marijuana for patients who can't
grow the plants themselves and would legalize transport and possession for
medicinal purposes.

"Canada is acting compassionately by allowing people who are suffering from
grave and debilitating illnesses to have access to marijuana for medical
purposes," said Health Minister Allan Rock. "Today's announcement is the
next important step. . . . It will bring greater clarity to the process for
Canadians who require the use of this drug to alleviate symptoms."

Rock said the rules would not make recreational use of marijuana legal.

Canada has long prided itself in having a tough yet compassionate approach
to drug users. In the United States, moves by eight states to legalize
medicinal use of marijuana have caused broad public debate and litigation;
critics say the drug's medical usefulness is unproven. But in Canada steps
toward legalization have prompted far less opposition.

Chuck Thomas, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project, a nonprofit group
working to change U.S. laws on the drug, said the United States should
follow Canada's lead. "We need the federal government to change laws,"
Thomas said. "Right now, people who use medical marijuana in the United
States even when recommended by a doctor are treated like criminals."

Kristin Hansen, a spokeswoman for the Family Research Council, a nonprofit
group opposed to legalizing marijuana for any use, said proposed rules in
Canada send the wrong message to children.

"It sends a bad message to kids that marijuana has positive benefits and
that it is a so-called medicine," Hansen said. "We believe the best way to
help people who are sick and dying is to utilize the drugs we have that are
approved to give relief."

Since 1999, the Canadian government has allowed patients to apply for
special permission to use marijuana for medicinal purposes. To date, 220
people have received clearance.

The regulations proposed today would formalize that system. They resulted
from a ruling by the Ontario Court of Appeal calling for clear regulations
on medical use. Now comes a consultation period in which law enforcement
groups and health agencies could comment, possibly resulting in changes
before the July 31 implementation.

The rules cover three categories of patients. The first is people so ill
that they have a prognosis of death within 12 months. The second is
patients who have serious diseases such as cancer, AIDS, HIV infection and
multiple sclerosis.

In both of these categories, the law would allow marijuana to be used to
help relieve muscle spasms, chronic pain, nausea, anorexia and other
symptoms, provided that other drugs did not work.

The third category covers those who think marijuana can help their
symptoms. "It is for those who firmly believe this is the solution for
them," said Roslyn Tremblay, a spokeswoman for Health Canada, the national
health department. "They have tried medication and other treatments that
don't work for them."

Tremblay said patients would require a recommendation by a physician, who
would then fill out forms and submit an application to the government.

Tremblay said it would probably not be possible for a U.S. patient to cross
the border and obtain the drug. "This is within our borders," she said.
"These [rules] apply to residents and citizens of Canada."

The eight U.S. states that have moved to legalize medicinal use of
marijuana are California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada
and Colorado.