DRUGSTORES TO START SELLING CANNABIS

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS -- This week the Netherlands will become the world's
first country to make cannabis available as a prescription drug in pharmacies
to treat chronically ill patients, a top health official said Sunday.

The Dutch government has given the country's 1,650 pharmacies the green light
to sell cannabis starting Monday to those with HIV, cancer, multiple sclerosis
and Tourette's syndrome in a groundbreaking acceptance of the drug's medicinal
use.

"It's a historic step. What is unique is that we are making it available on a
prescription-only basis through pharmacies," said Willem Scholten, head of the
Office of Medicinal Cannabis at the Health Ministry.

Two firms in the Netherlands have been given licenses to grow special strains
of cannabis in laboratory conditions to sell to the Health Ministry, which in
turn packages and labels the drug in small tubs to supply to pharmacies. Also,
80 hospitals and 400 doctors will be allowed to dispense 5-gram doses.