MEDICAL MARIJUANA

The Canadian government has indicated that it doesn't intend to appeal
an Ontario Superior Court ruling that permits a Toronto AIDS patient
to use marijuana for medicinal purposes. However, federal Health
Minister Allan Rock says the decision doesn't mean that smoking
marijuana has been legalized.

The court ruling handed down Monday gave 54-year-old Jim Wakeford a
constitutional exemption from being prosecuted if he smoked pot to
relieve his symptoms. Justice Harry LaForme also ruled that Wakeford
would not have to tell the government where he got the marijuana.

Wakeford is the second person in Toronto to receive court permission
to use marijuana for medicinal purposes. In 1997, a lower court stayed
drug possession charges against Terry Parker...who said he needed
marijuana to treat epilepsy symptoms. The federal government has
appealed that decision.

In March, Rock told reporters his department would carry out clinical
tests that could lead to the legalization of marijuana for medicinal
purposes.

Should marijuana be legalized for medicinal purposes? Do you think
this might eventually lead to the legalization of all street drugs?