DECRIMINALIZE THERAPEUTIC MARIJUANA NOW, MP SAYS

Ottawa should not wait until the completion of clinical trials before it
decriminalizes marijuana for therapeutic reasons, says a Bloc Quebecois MP.

"Many people need to take marijuana to cope with their illness and it is
important to adjust the law to this new reality," Bernard Bigras said
Thursday during a visit to Vancouver.

Bigras introduced a private member's bill in Parliament last year calling
on Ottawa to decriminalize marijuana for medical reasons.

The bill is expected to be debated in June and Bigras is on a national tour
to raise the issue.

Health Minister Allan Rock recently announced that clinical tests will be
held to see whether marijuana provides therapeutic benefits to people
suffering from a painful disease or terminal illness.

Bigras was to meet today with Vancouver's Compassion Club, which in recent
years has been discreetly supplying marijuana for free or at reduced rates
to sick people in the Lower Mainland.

The club's activity is illegal but it receives referrals from agencies
serving people with cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis.

"The Compassion Club is a model for Canada," said Bigras. "Club members can
take the marijuana in a secure environment and receive a very good quality
of marijuana."

Bigras said that many people are resorting to buying marijuana from the
street and finding it laced with other substances that only exacerbate
their pain.

The MP said it is unfair that sick, even dying people, can still face stiff
fines or jail time for using marijuana.

Compassion Club founder Hilary Black said her members strongly support
Bigras' bill. She said the clinical trials proposed by Rock will be of
little benefit to many of her club's 700 members.

"The truth is that the people who are in most need now are not going to be
around to take advantage of the trials," Black said.

"The people who are furthest along with cancer and HIV infection need to be
freed of the fear and shame of breaking the law."

The Liberal government does not plan to change the Criminal Code for the
trials, but will use a section of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
that allows the minister to exempt people from prosecution for special
circumstances.

Black said there is a long list of ill people in B.C. waiting for an
exemption so they can buy low-cost marijuana.

She said the drug helps relax spasms for multiple sclerosis sufferers and
people with epileptic seizures. It also helps to relax muscles, counter
nausea, improve sleep patterns and stimulate appetite.

Bigras said many MPs are still resistant to the notion of legalizing
marijuana for any purpose. Nevertheless, the Quebec MP expects strong
support from other Bloc members, the NDP, many Tories and some Liberals and
Reformers.

B.C. Reform MP Jim Hart has been an outspoken defender of legalizing the
drug for medicinal purposes.

Bigras said his bill has also received support from national groups
representing people with AIDS, hemophiliacs and senior citizens.