EMBARRASSING MESS

Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh risks being seen as an unreasonable
prohibitionist if he doesn't direct his ministry with integrity. He
has an opportunity now to do the right thing, but he likely won't.

Under former health ministers Pierre Pettigrew and Anne McLellan, the
medical marijuana program was an embarrassing shambles, and it remains
so today. Many doctors refuse to sign the medical marijuana licence
because the paperwork is dysfunctional, confusing and
unconstitutional.

Health Canada often says that there is not enough scientific evidence
that cannabis is safe medicine. This is not true. There are dozens of
international reports to suggest that cannabis is one of the safest
medicines known to man. Many dangerous chemicals, painkillers,
anti-depressants and tranquilizers are put on the market with far less
scrutiny than cannabis has been subjected to.

It is starting to appear as though the federal government has some
sort of vested interest in prohibition. By keeping safe medicine from
Canadians, they play right into the hands of the pharmaceutical
industry lobbyists. When will this government start doing the will of
the people, instead of the will of big business?

Russell Barth,

Ottawa