ONTARIO COURT HEARS APPEAL OF FED POT LAW

A battle to determine whether the federal government should have to
provide medicinal marijuana began yesterday in a case that could alter
Canada's pot possession laws. Crown lawyer Croft Michaelson argued in
the Ontario Court of Appeal that a ruling by an Ontario Superior Court
justice that the federal government is required to set up a
distribution scheme for medicinal marijuana should be overturned.

Outside court, lawyer Alan Young, who is arguing for the appeal, said
the federal government needs to take the initiative for those
authorized to use marijuana for medicinal purposes because the private
sector isn't yet involved in distributing marijuana.

The hearing continues today.