Pubdate: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 Source: Salt Lake Tribune (UT) Copyright: 2001 The Salt Lake Tribune Contact: http://www.sltrib.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/383 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) NETHERLANDS CABINET OKS BILL AUTHORIZING PHARMACIES TO SUPPLY MARIJUANA AMSTERDAM -- The Dutch Cabinet approved a bill Friday that would allow pharmacies to fill marijuana prescriptions and for the government to pay for them. Parliament was expected to vote in the next few months on the proposal to put medicinal marijuana on the national health care plan. If the bill is passed by the 150-seat legislature, pharmacies would be supplied with "pharmaceutical quality" marijuana after testing by a government agency. Although the sale of marijuana is technically illegal, Dutch authorities tolerate the sale of small amounts in hundreds of so-called "coffee shops" that operate openly. A gram of marijuana costs about $4. Under the new law, most users would have the cost of their joints paid by the government as long as they have a doctor's prescription. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh