MP CHALLENGES ROCK POT MOVE

OTTAWA -- A Bloc MP accuses Health Minister Allan Rock of plotting to
derail his Commons motion to legalize marijuana for medical purposes.
"I think it's a minister's campaign to destabilize all the people
working on the proposal," Bernard Bigras said yesterday.

Bigras said he doubts the sincerity of Rock's announcement Wednesday
that he'll launch clinical tests of medical marijuana.

Bigras said if Rock honestly plans to move forward with the tests, he
has to support the Bloc motion when it comes to a vote in June.

Meantime, he said, Rock can prove his good faith by using Health
Canada's powers to provide legal access to pot for AIDS and cancer
victims.

Bigras has Tory and NDP support, and now will send out 10,000
postcards to get support from Canadians.

The cards remind supporters of a 1997 Ontario court ruling that called
the Narcotic Control Act unconstitutional as it applies to the
therapeutic use of pot.