OTTAWA TAKES A TOUGHER STANCE ON POT THAN OTHER HERBAL CURES

Re: "More research needs to be done into medical uses of cannabis,"
Journal, Aug. 29.

In regards to Paula Simons' column and Health Minister Anne McLellan's
recent suggestion that marijuana undergo clinical trials -- which could
take anywhere from 5 to 10 years -- this is nothing more than the same old
political hypocrisy by a minister of a political party that makes all their
decisions according to polls and American bullying.

If the federal government was so concerned about the potential side-effects
of herbal substances such as marijuana, why are they not conducting
full-scale clinical trials on all the so-called herbal remedies which are
legally marketed throughout Canada?

Some of these products are marketed as mood-altering substances, others
such are sold as stimulants, sleep-aids and natural cortisone. Where are
the clinical trials on these products?

Has corporate America (read pharmaceutical companies) jerked a few choke
chains around the necks of our federal politicians knowing they have no
alternatives to the reported therapeutic effects of marijuana such as pain
relief, nausea relief and control of spasms and seizures?

If McLellan wants to have any credibility on this issue she should hold all
these other so-called natural remedies to the same standard as marijuana
and stop trying to fool some of the people some of the time.

Chris Rolfe, Edmonton