ROCK AGREES TO MARIJUANA TRIALS

OTTAWA (CP) -- Health Minister Allan Rock has asked his officials to draw
up a plan for clinical trials on the medical use of marijuana -- and to
figure out how a safe supply could be provided to those who might need the
drug to ease pain.

"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 Wednesday.

But before the government makes a final decision it wants scientific
evidence, not just anecdotal testimony, on whether smoking pot can help
relieve pain.

"Clinical trials will help us develop that evidence in a calm, rational
way," Rock said outside the Commons.

"I think Canadians support, on a compassionate basis, if someone is dying,
access to a substance that could alleviate their symptoms."

Various lobby groups and individuals contend that marijuana can help ease
the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, advanced AIDs and a range of
other ailments.

Some users have clashed with the law after being arrested for possession,
trafficking or growing pot. But many convictions have resulted in lenient
sentences, and in some cases absolute discharges that left the person with
no criminal record.

Rock, who has been wrestling with the problem for some time, announced his
plan a day before the Commons was to debate a private member's motion by
Bloc Quebecois MP Bernard Bigras advocating legalization of marijuana for
medical use.

The initiative has attracted two NDP MPs, Nelson Riis and Libby Davies, as
co-sponsors. It is slated to be one of the few pieces of private member's
business that will come to a formal vote in this session of the Commons.

Liberal sources confirmed Rock's timing Wednesday was a matter of political
calculation rather than coincidence.

"Allan's been talking about this for a long time, he feels strongly about
it," said one insider. "And it's always good to be ahead of an issue."

It was not clear how long the clinical trials might take, though officials
say research projects of this kind typically go on for two to three years.

Only if the trials show marijuana is medically useful would the government
go on to the next step -- a formal decision on whether to allow full-time
legal access to the drug for medical use.

In the meantime, Rock is looking at the possibility of issuing special
permission for individuals to use the drug on a case-by-case basis, whether
they participate in the research trials or not.

"He doesn't want a restrictive process that would deny access in
compassionate cases," said one senior official.

Aside from gathering scientific evidence, Rock wants to examine how to
provide a safe and controlled supply of medical marijuana for those who
might need it.

The minister was careful to specify that the trials do not mean the
government is moving toward wider legalization of pot for recreational
purposes.

"I've asked officials to develop a plan for research," he said. "It has
nothing to do with legalizing marijuana."

Reform health critic Grant Hill said he favours clinical trials "to look at
anything that will help people out."

But he was uneasy that the move might widen into a campaign for
legalization of marijuana for any purpose.

"As a medical doctor I've treated young people who were habituated to
marijuana, whose marks had suffered, whose lives were wrecked. That's my
concern."

Bigras, speaking for the Bloc, welcomed Rock's announcement but warned that
the minister shouldn't use clinical trials as an excuse to postpone a
political decision.

There has to be a way for individuals to get access to the drug on a
compassionate basis while the trials go on, said Bigras.

Terrence Stewart, chairman of the Canadian AIDS Society, called Rock's
announcement "a great step." But he quickly added the society will keep
pressing Ottawa to take the next step and decriminalize the drug for
medical use.

"Just providing the drugs under a clinical trial is not going to be the
answer. We have to have a commitment from the government that they will see
it through to the end."