B.C. PHARMACISTS WILL DISPENSE MARIJUANA

VANCOUVER - B.C. pharmacies will soon be dispensing medicinal marijuana
under a Health Canada pilot project.

Stakeholders are currently in talks to discuss just how the drug will be
dispensed to medicinal marijuana users.

Dr. Brenda Osmond (PhD), Registrar of the College of Pharmacists of B.C.,
says the details haven't been finalized yet, but pharmacists are on side
with the plan. In fact, in July 2003 the college surveyed its members on
the issue and 80% agreed it was a good idea.

"This will be somewhere between a standard prescription product and, say,
the over-the-counter morning after pill," she explained. "What Health
Canada is envisioning is not that a doctor will write a prescription per
se, but that a medical declaration will be signed by a treating physician.
The patient still has to get authorization from Health Canada to possess
marijuana for medical purposes and the declaration has to be signed by the
treating physician."

No dates have been set for further talks on when the project will be
launched, although it is expected that it will be within the year.

There are currently 78 users of medicinal pot listed with Health Canada,
which provides the Flin Flon, Man.-grown drug.