MEDICINAL MARIJUANA TALKS 'WENT VERY WELL'

Health Canada's first consultation on therapeutic marijuana use
produced a lot of smoke yesterday, but organizers still left the
meeting happy.

"It went very well. It was a very healthy exchange of views on the use
of medicinal marijuana," said Dann Michols, the director general of
Health Canada's Therapeutic Products Program.

About 50 consultation participants from across the country came to
discuss their concerns about educating Canada's physicians and public
about medicinal marijuana use.

Some participants wanted to be granted medical exemptions from
prosecution for marijuana use, others wanted permission to grow and
distribute marijuana to those who need it for its pain-killing and
stomach-calming effects.

They were joined by law enforcement officials, physicians and nurses
wanting to discuss the administration of medicinal marijuana and the
rights of exempted users with Health Canada representatives.

To accommodate medicinal marijuana users, the Rotary Room in the
Travelodge Hotel on Carling Avenue was set aside for them to light up
whenever necessary.

Health Canada organizers didn't feel obligated to check whether
marijuana users in the room had medical exemptions allowing them to
use marijuana.

Medicinal marijuana users kept their smoke inside the Rotary Room and
didn't upset other guests.

Organizers plan to continue the consultation process with physicians,
but have no plans to organize another multiparty consultation in the
near future.