Pubdate: Wed, 2 Feb 2000 Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB) Copyright: 2000 Winnipeg Free Press Contact: 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg Manitoba R2X 3B6 Fax: (204) 697-7288 Feedback: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/letters_to_editor/index.html Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ Author: LILY FRIESEN PATIENTS DENIED MEDICAL MARIJUANA Alan Rock and the Health Department continue to deny patients access to a safe, clean supply of medical marijuana. The Community Research Initiative of Toronto, which was chosen to conduct the testing of medical marijuana was told by the department it would take a few years to set anything up. The Grand Forks Hemp Co. and the Vancouver Compassion Club have sent letters to the department informing it of the availability of home-grown cannabis. Brian Taylor, mayor of Grand Forks, B.C., submitted a detailed business plan in early September 1999. He said a high-grade, laboratory-tested and controlled cannabis would be ready for trials within six months. Could it be because the Health Protection Branch, a division of the Health Department, responsible for controls and restrictions on herbs, vitamins and drugs, is 100 per cent funded by its "clients," the pharmaceutical companies and their profits? LILY FRIESEN - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck