HEALTH MINISTER SUBPOENAED IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA CASE

Health Minister Allan Rock has been subpoenaed in the medical marijuana
trial of Raymond Turmel, 49, of Hull.

Mr. Rock has been subpoenaed to testify for Mr. Turmel, who has been
charged under the Controlled Substances and Drug Act with cultivating and
possession with the intent to traffic. His case is currently before
provincial court in Hull.

Mr. Turmel is representing himself and has also filed subpoenas for other
high-level Health Canada officials.

The first piece of evidence submitted to the jury was a signed admission
from Mr. Turmel, admitted to producing cannabis and cultivating marijuana
with intent to traffic. Officers obtain a search warrant to carry out the
raid that took place on July 19, 2000.

"Consider these facts as conclusively proven, even though no one has
testified as such," Justice Jean Pierre Plouffe instructed the jury.

The trial is expected to last at least five days.