OTTAWA POT PLAN UNWORKABLE: DOCTORS

TORONTO - Medicinal marijuana advocates say Health Canada's new
regulations will make it almost impossible for users to get a legal
supply of pot.

* INDEPTH: Medical Marijuana

The federal government will start providing marijuana to about 500
people in Canada who are allowed to use the drug for medical use.
Under the new regulations, doctors will be the legal distributors of
the drug.

* FROM JULY 9, 2003: Ottawa OKs medical pot distribution plan

But the Canadian and Ontario medical associations have strongly
advised doctors not to participate in Health Canada's program, and
doctors say the plan isn't workable.

"I almost don't believe it. I think that things need to be clarified,"
said Dr. Gordon Arbass, a Toronto doctor who treats AIDS patients.

He has signed Health Canada forms for dozens of his patients who need
marijuana to gain weight or control nausea brought on by their medication.

Arbass said Health Canada did not consult physicians before deciding
to give the responsibility of dispensing the drug.

"For the majority of physicians, they are going to stay clear from
this because they don't want to have any difficulty in terms of theft,
burglary, vandalism," said Arbass.

The new regulations require patients to sign a form swearing they will
not get pot from any source other than Health Canada.

But if they doctors aren't willing to provide it, medical pot users
could be back where they started, getting marijuana illegally from
dealers.

Health Canada 'forced' to provide pot

The founder of Vancouver's Compassion Club, where about 2,400 members
get their medicinal pot, says the new regulations show Health Canada
isn't enthusiastic about pot as medicine.

"I believe that this is a bit of a smokescreen," said Hillary
Black.

Black said Health Canada is moving too slowly, and doesn't want
medical marijuana to become widely accessible.

"Health Canada has been forced every step of the way by court orders.
It's not coming from a true intention or a place of compassion or,
really, a place of integrity, where they really want to give Canadians
access to medicinal cannabis," she said.

In January, Ontario's Superior Court said Ottawa's access regulations
to medical marijuana were unconstitutional because they don't provide
a distribution method for the drug. It gave Ottawa six months to come
up with a new policy.

The federal government is appealing the Ontario decision. The appeal
will be heard at the end of July 2003, said Health Canada
spokesperson Cindy Cripps-Prawak.