CANADA EXPANDS MEDICAL MARIJUANA RULES

TORONTO - New regulations expanding the legal use of medical
marijuana will allow people with terminal or debilitating illnesses
to possess and cultivate pot, or designate someone to do it for them.

But the Canadian Medical Association opposed the rules announced
Wednesday, saying that too little is known about the drug's possible
harm.

The guidelines take effect July 30, meeting a court-ordered deadline
for the government to create the regulatory system.

"Today's announcement is a landmark in our ongoing effort to give
Canadians suffering from grave and debilitating illnesses access to
marijuana for medical purposes," Health Minister Allan Rock said.

The regulations create categories of people who could possess
marijuana, including those with specified illnesses with a prognosis
of death within one year and others with symptoms associated with
serious medical conditions. The second category would include
patients with severe arthritis, cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis.

The regulations were drawn up after a court ruling last year that
gave the government until July 31 to change criminal laws so people
requiring marijuana for medicinal purposes could legally obtain and
possess it.