NEW POT RULES PROPOSED

OTTAWA (CP) -- The federal government is set to propose new
regulations this week making marijuana more accessible for people
suffering from serious illnesses.

It's expected the new regulations will address a contradiction in
current regulations, which allow people with illnesses to use
marijuana but provide no legal route of supply.

"When we first announced some time ago that we'd make marijuana
available for medical purposes it's because some people believe that
for those who are seriously ill or in discomfort it can be of
assistance, so it was based on compassion," Health Minister Allan
Rock said Tuesday.

"The steps we propose in the regulations which will be tabled next
week or later this week, will be intended to carry through on that in
a very practical way."

The proposed changes will likely widen the gap between Canadian
policies and those in the United States, where the federal government
still sees marijuana as a major target in its "war on drugs."

The U.S. government has gone to court to stop the operation of
"cannabis clubs" in California, saying there is no medical use for
marijuana, contrary to lower court rulings in that state.

In contrast, Ottawa intends to comply with an Ontario ruling last
year that found the law banning possession of marijuana
unconstitutional and gave the federal government one year to amend
it. The intention is to get new rules in place by July 31 to comply
with a court-ordered deadline, said Catherine Lappe, Rock's press
secretary, in an interview Tuesday.

The proposed amendments will likely be published in the Canada
Gazette this week, with public comment invited for a 30-day period.

Currently, people with serious illnesses can apply for exemption from
prosecution for growing or using marijuana, and some 210 people have
obtained exemptions. Many applications have stalled or been rejected.

"There's still a lot of stumbling blocks and bureaucracy involved,
even after an application's been supported medically," said Tim
McClemont, executive director of the Hepatitis C Society of Canada.

Last month, police raided the home of Toronto AIDS patient Jim
Wakeford, who has a permit to use marijuana. They seized about 200
cannabis plants he was growing for himself and chronically ill
friends.

In February two men were charged with trafficking after police raided
Montreal's Club Compassion, one of several clubs that have sprung up
across the country for medical marijuana users.

Michel Perron, chief executive officer of the Canadian Centre on
Substance Abuse, said marijuana should be made available with a
doctor's prescription.

"There's a tremendous amount of anecdotal evidence that ... there
might be some benefits to the use of cannabis for certain
conditions," said Perron.

"I think the intention of Health Canada is to facilitate access to
marijuana on a trial basis to determine whether it is in fact helpful
for them (and) to undertake some research into what are the
consequences of its use."

Reports suggest the new rules would allow a patient who is ill to
designate another person as a supplier, which would be a significant
step beyond current regulations.