'ABOUT BLOODY TIME'

Warren Hitzig says "it's about bloody time" Health Canada made pot
available in pharmacies. News of a pilot project that would allow B.C.
medical users to buy government-certified marijuana at the drug store
was applauded yesterday by local pot defenders, like Hitzig, who
called on Ontario to do the same.

Reaction was mixed, however. Allan Love, a medicinal marijuana user,
wasn't too excited, saying the weed grown by the feds in Flin Flon,
Man., is "bulls--t."

"It doesn't really affect me unless their grade of marijuana greatly
improves," said Love, 50, who is HIV-positive and suffers from seizures.

He prefers the pot distributed by so-called compassion clubs, and said
the feds should look into licensing independent growers and legalizing
local weed distribution centres.

Hitzig, former director of the Toronto Compassion Centre, which
supplies weed to about 1,500 ill clients, called the news a "positive
note" for Canada.

"I'm glad Canada's rolling with the ball instead of fighting it," he
said.

Hitzig said the high demand for pot by HIV and cancer patients means
it shouldn't be treated any different from other medicines available
in the drug store.

"If it was a small percentage of people claiming that marijuana was
benefitting them, then I would say let the government mail it out. But
the fact of the matter is there is a huge population asking for this
medicine, so it should be readily available."