VICTORIA WANTS ANSWERS ON MEDICAL POT ACCESS

Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe wants to know how to get some medical marijuana.

Lowe says he plans to contact Health Canada to inquire about the
availability of medical marijuana. Speaking at a committee of the whole
meeting in Victoria May 2, Lowe told city councillors he hopes to arrange
for a representative of Health Canada to speak at a combined police
board/council gathering about access to the federally-sanctioned supply of pot.

When asked afterward about the time frame for such a meeting, Lowe was
non-committal, saying it depends mainly on the availability of a person
from the federal health department's Ottawa-based office.

Victoria medical marijuana advocate Ted Smith, among the people to have
complained that Health Canada's distribution procedures have made it
virtually impossible for those with legitimate need to use marijuana for
medicinal purposes, said he's pleased Health Canada is being called on the
carpet to clarify its policies.

"To my knowledge this is the first time Health Canada has ever been called
to address any municipal council," he said.

At its April 18 committee of the whole meeting, Victoria councillors voted
to in general support the issuing of medical marijuana by suppliers other
than Health Canada. Two such "compassion clubs" are in existence in Greater
Victoria.

Health Canada, which set up its lone growing operation in Flin Flon, Man.
in 2000 to supply terminally ill patients and those suffering from chronic
pain from other illnesses with government-approved pot, has been plagued
with distribution problems, despite the fact relatively few people have
been issued legal medical exemptions to use the drug.

Smith estimates that less than 40 people in the 800-member Cannabis Buyers'
Club which he co-founded have legal exemptions. Most have not bothered to
apply, he said, because going through Health Canada takes too long.