ROCK STIRS THE POT WITH COMMENTS

OTTAWA -- Health Minister Allan Rock all but admitted yesterday he's smoked
pot.

But the lawyer in him made sure his admission wouldn't hold water in court.

"As former attorney general of Canada, I am keenly aware of the right
against self incrimination in this country.

"I fully intend to invoke that right," Rock said yesterday.

"But one thing I can be very clear about -- I never smoked marijuana -- for
medicinal purposes."

Rock made his comments after testifying before a parliamentary committee
about how he intends to proceed with clinical trials on the medicinal use
of marijuana.

Rock strongly signalled he intends to give home-grown pot a whole new
meaning saying he wants to produce a 'made in Canada' brand.

"I think we're up to it as a nation," Rock said. "I'd like to see it in
Canada."

He told the committee his department is still trying to figure out where
the pot will be grown, who will grow it and under what conditions.

Options include importing the weed, allowing private companies to grow it
or letting government officials plant a pot garden.

Rock said his priority is to ensure Canadians who need pot to cure their
medical pains have a "safe source."

He said there are several advantages to having government bureaucrats grow
the dope. They include being able to ensure a certain level of cleanliness
and a consistent concentration of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.

Rock was asked by Bloc MP Bernard Bigras about reports one of his officials
travelled to the University of Mississippi to investigate how the Americans
grow their dope.

Mississippi is where all U.S. scientific research on marijuana is conducted.

But Rock said he knew nothing about the report and has no intention of
checking out the U.S. government's private stock.

Bigras said Rock should turn to the Americans for assistance in setting up
a Canadian system of marijuana production because they have more expertise
than Canadians.