CANNABIS CLOSER TO LEGALIZATION

In the eyes of the federal government's health minister, Anne McLellan,
Parliament Hill reeked of reefer madness on Wednesday, July 9.

Health Canada and the federal government have been forced into growing and
selling marijuana for medicinal purposes after a Supreme Court order was
issued. However, many pot smokers are not as excited about this new turn of
events as some may expect.

"This is a mistake," said Brian Taylor, editor of Cannabis Health magazine
and recent cancer survivor. Taylor said that, even with this revelation, it
would still be hard for patients to access the government grown marijuana.
In order for patients to be eligible they must have a doctor fill out and
sign a special access request form (SAR). However, the Canadian Medical
Association and the Canadian Medical Protective Association have advised
all doctors not to sign the SAR forms as they could suffer liability and
legal consequences.

If patients do happen to find a doctor willing to sign the SAR forms, they
then have to sign a legal document stating they will only use government
provided marijuana which doesn't meet a lot of higher standards and
expectations regular users are used to.

"What they're offering is shwagg," Taylor explained of the governments
lower, ten per cent THC level marijuana.

With this lower quality level, users are forced to smoke a lot more seeing
as how they are used to a 15 to 18 per cent THC level sold on the streets.
"Most patients want higher quality with less quantity of smoking,"
explained Taylor of the increased amount of use these lower THC levels will
be causing.

Another roadblock for the government is that the only way this program came
about was because the courts forced them into it and there is always room
for appeals.

"This is damage control," said Taylor, "the program can be cancelled at any
minute with Anne McLellan challenging the courts decision."

However, even with the government opposition, Taylor believes legalization
is forthcoming.

Many pot smokers are loyal to their drug and stand by the benefits
marijuana has to offer. Some benefits include relief from stress and pain,
elimination of nausea, and encouragement for appetite enhancement.

"If you're in constant pain, you don't function," said Barb St. Jean,
Cannabis Health magazine volunteer. She further explained that many sick
patients are unable to tolerate conventional pharmaceuticals thus causing
them to turn to marijuana.

"Long term use (of pharmaceuticals) can be pretty detrimental to your
body,"explained St. Jean, "The only other alternative is to turn to the
natural form of marijuana."

Both Taylor and St. Jean believe that before this program can survive the
public's perception of marijuana needs to change.

"We're not long-haired hippies, we don't smoke in the park, it's not a blow
in your face drug as perceived in the media," ranted St. Jean.

Shortly after these comments were made, a group of them gathered around a
small television set in the production office of the magazine to watch the
Noon News Hour on July 9. Sure enough, when their segment was aired, the
first thing shown was a long-haired, Hepatitis B patient blowing pot smoke
into the camera's lens.

"Oh no, they're showing smoke in the face, we're not going to be taken
seriously," Taylor sadly commented as he shook his head at the TV screen.

The government's plan includes selling a package of seeds,for $20, which
will produce ten plants. Or, if the patient is too weak to grow his or her
own, they will be able to purchase a gram of dried marijuana for five dollars.