CLINICAL TRIALS SET FOR SOME MARIJUANA USES

OTTAWA, CANADA -- Canada's health minister has authorized clinical trials to
determine if marijuana is a useful medicine for people suffering from
terminal illnesses and other painful conditions.

But the minister, Allan Rock, emphasized during debate in Parliament on
Wednesday that the decision did not mean the government was moving toward
wider legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes.

"There are Canadians who are suffering from terminal illnesses, who are in
pain or suffering from difficult symptoms, who believe that smoking medical
marijuana can help with their symptoms," Rock said.

"There's all kinds of anecdotal evidence. There's no scientific evidence.
Clinical trials will help us develop that evidence in a calm, rational way,"
he said.