ROCK SETTING RULES FOR MEDICAL WEED

OTTAWA -- Health Minister Allan Rock will today announce the
criteria to allow medical users of marijuana to select someone to
grow pot for them and set limits on the number of plants that can be
grown.

Rock will spell out the rules to possess and grow marijuana and allow
doctors to determine how much pot a medical user can have to relieve
pain and nausea.

A copy of draft regulations obtained by Sun Media shows there are
three categories that would allow a medical user to keep a stash of
pot.

People with terminal illnesses, those with serious medical conditions
and people with symptoms associated with other medical conditions
would be eligible.

"If you are terminally ill, you might not want to have to grow it
yourself. So you can designate someone else to be the one who would
produce it or grow it for you," said Catherine Lappe, a spokeswoman
for Rock.

Under the proposals, the government would licence the maximum number
of indoor and outdoor plants depending on the patient's daily needs.
The government has so far allowed about 210 people to smoke marijuana
without fear of prosecution because of medical reasons. The
regulations are expected to come into effect by July 31.