LEGALIZED POT FOR MEDICAL USE IS THE PRACTICAL OPTION

Thousands of Canadians who suffer from various health problems still want
to smoke pot to help them handle the symptoms and the pain. The only thing
that's changed about medical marijuana issue in Canada this week is
Ottawa's mind - health Minister Anne McLellan's decision to stop supplying
marijuana for medical purposes until such time clinical trials are complete.

So in the meantime patients who rely on cannabis to ease their pain will
continue to be between a rock and a hard place: having the ability to
legally own pot, but not being allowed to buy it without breaking the law.
This isn't a very enlightened or compassionate - or sensible - policy.

Insisting that she is "not insensitive to those who feel it helps them in
their final days or acute illness situations," Ms. McLellan says she owes
it to Canadians to ensure that marijuana is safe and effective before
approving its widespread use.

We agree that Ms. McLellan should start the medical trials soon to ensure
that marijuana, like other therapeutic drugs, is safe. But in light of
anecdotal evidence that cannabis is already helping thousands of patients
every day, and in view of the fact that they're using it whether she likes
it or not, Ms. McLellan should give the practice her blessing, at least
until the evidence suggests otherwise.

The Canadian Medical Association Journal says in a recent editorial, "The
minimal negative effects of moderate use would be attested to by the
estimated 1.5 million Canadians who smoke marijuana for recreational purposes."

The Ontario courts seem to agree. Two years ago, the Ontario Court of
Appeal ruled that Torontonian Terry Parker could smoke pot to control his
epileptic seizures. And the curt gave Ottawa 12 months to amend the law
against possessing marijuana for medical purposes or appeal the ruling to
the Supreme Court of Canada.

Ottawa chose not to appeal and introduced regulations last year to permit
qualified patients to smoke pot. The feds also hired a firm in Manitoba to
grow medical marijuana. But on Monday, Ms. McLellan pulled the plug on the
whole project.

Ironically, Ms. McLellan, when she was minister of justice, indicated that
she supports decriminalization for simple possession of marijuana. So does
the current Minister of Justice, Martin Cauchon.

Now both have done a u-turn. The reasons, at least as far as we can tell,
are two-fold. Doctors have be lobbying hard against prescribing pot for
medical use. And American officials have also been against the idea of
making cannabis more freely and legally available in Canada.

Critics contend that marijuana hasn't been through any double blind tests
to prove its safety and efficacy. But the fact is a lot of therapies in
the market today haven't been through such tests either. So the requirement
for a double-blind test is a red herring and doesn't help the thousands who
maintain that they need and want marijuana right now.

As far as the American objections go, realpolitik demands that the federal
government tread carefully. But Ottawa must not be shy to point out to
Washington that 12 U.S. states have already decriminalized possession of pot.

And Ottawa must also let the Americans know that wasting police resources
on making criminals out of otherwise law abiding Canadians isn't a priority
here.

There are two ways for Ottawa to amend the pot laws. It can decriminalize
possession for personal use or legalize it completely.

Decriminalizing won't solve the catch-22 that many patients are in today:
being able to legally buy pot, but not sell it. Legalization, therefore,
is the only practical option.

Legalization, however, does raise questions about the appropriate
regulatory framework for production and distribution. And there are issues
surrounding public health and safety.

These important questions can be dealt with if Ottawa makes the practical
decision to legalize pot. But as long as ineffectual politicians continue
to dither, some patients will continue to either suffer in pain or skate
around the law, and too many ordinary Canadians will carry the stigma of
having a criminal record.