TWO PATIENTS GET OK TO SMOKE POT

Ottawa- The federal government has given permission for the cultivation and
use of marijuana for medical purposes for the first time in Canadian
history.

Health Minister Allan Rock announced Wednesday he has granted special
exemptions from federal drug law to Jim Wakeford of Toronto and Jean-
Charles Pariseau of Vanier, Ont. both of whom have AIDS.

"This is about showing compassion to people, often dying, suffering from
grave debilitating illness," rock told the Commons on Wednesday.

He said the Health department will soon invite bids from firms interested in
supplying the marijuana for use in coming clinical trials.

"I want a Canadian source," he said outside the house. "We're going to be
putting the job out for tender to find someone who can grow us a reliable
consistent quality for research purposes."

He denied the move is a stop toward legalization of marijuana: "No more than
the use of heroin or morphine in hospitals is a step toward legalizing
them."