MEDICINAL POT STANCE A 'JOKE'

TRAIL, B.C. -- The federal government's handling of the medical marijuana
debate in Canada has turned into a "joke," says a B.C. provincial court judge.

Judge Keith Libby made his observation during a sentencing hearing on
Friday for a 37-year-old local man convicted of growing marijuana. Wayne
Wilson was charged Jan. 30 after RCMP uncovered a marijuana grow operation
in his home.

Libby said it has become difficult to rule in drug cases with the federal
government and doctors in the middle of a long political debate.

"Prescription of marijuana is a hot political topic among the medical
community," he said, adding that doctors are making it difficult to get
information to base legal decisions.

"The whole concept of marijuana in this country has become a joke," he said.

Prime Minister Jean Chretien also set a poor example earlier in the week
when he made an offhand remark about smoking marijuana after he retires,
said Libby.

Wilson was handed a one-year conditional sentence, with terms including a
curfew, 50 hours of community service and a 10-year weapons ban.