MEDICAL MARIJUANA TO GET 'SERIOUS LOOK'

Health Minister Allan Rock says the federal government has an "open mind"
on whether to decriminalize marijuana for medicinal purposes.

"More and more we find people suggesting that marijuana, when smoked, has a
medicinal value," Mr. Rock said in an interview. "I think my responsibility
is to look seriously and with an open mind at the evidence in deciding on
whether the government should get out of the way and permit the use of a
substance for medical purposes. And I encourage people to bring that
evidence to us."

Mr. Rock's comments echoed those last week by Justice Minister Anne
McLellan, who called for a public debate on the issue. Indeed, Mr. Rock
said, he and Ms. McLellan have already "encouraged" officials in their
departments to examine the matter.

The key to whether regulatory or legislative change occurs will be whether
it can be proven that marijuana has medicinal value.

Bureaucrats will not launch their own research projects, but are ready to
review evidence that anyone outside government is prepared to offer, Mr.
Rock said.

"I think we should allow ourselves to be governed by the evidence. As in
the case with any other drug whether it's a new headache pill or an
antidepressant or some kind of medication for cold relief, or anything
else the rule of thumb at Health Canada is: 'Show us the scientific
evidence.' ''

In essence, Mr. Rock suggested, it's possible marijuana could be treated by
federal regulators as they treat other proposed prescription drugs.

As long as the substance passes two basic regulatory hurdles proof that
it is safe for use and offers the medical value that its producers claim
the product could be approved for prescriptions.

"We don't develop new drugs and new treatments at Health Canada," Mr. Rock
said.

"What we do is we receive applications by people who want drugs approved
for medical purposes and we examine their evidence. There may be research
from university labs or private labs, for all I know, that bear on the
medical use of marijuana.

"If there is, I encourage people to submit it, and we'll review it with an
open mind."

Mr. Rock's comments came as the RCMP in Ottawa investigate a network of
growers, patients and doctors that provides free or discount marijuana to
AIDS and cancer patients.

A group of doctors plans to meet in Ottawa this week to come up with a
strategy on how to provide the drug to seriously ill patients.

And Reform MP Jim Hart has introduced a motion in the Commons to debate the
decriminalization of marijuana "for health purposes, explicitly for the
purpose of providing pain relief for the terminally ill."

Ms. McLellan, whose department is responsible for prosecutions under
Canada's drug laws, said the medical profession and health ministers
should lead the debate because it is essentially a health issue.

Mr. Rock concurred, indicating that he hopes the debate does not get bogged
down in societal questions that have long divided Canadians over marijuana.
"I would hope it would turn on the evidence."