Pubdate: Wed, 21 Aug 2002 Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB) Copyright: 2002 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.fyiwinnipeg.com/winsun.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503 Author: Stephanie Rubec Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada) POT PROGRAM GAINS REPRIEVE SAGUENAY, Que. -- Health Minister Anne McLellan backed down yesterday from plans to snuff out government experiments to supply medical marijuana, adding she'll wait for the results of clinical tests before making a decision. "I have to be very concerned about the health and safety of Canadians," she said. "We are dealing with a drug that has not gone through the normal clinical trials that one would expect in relation to a product of this kind." McLellan said she won't make a move until she gets the results of the clinical tests, which are expected to start late this fall or early winter. McLellan told the Canadian Medial Association in Saint John Monday that she felt uncomfortable with the idea of Ottawa providing pot to relieve pain. She told the gathering she was considering putting an end to the federal government's controversial $5.7-million project to grow medicinal-grade marijuana in an underground mine in Flin Flon. - --- MAP posted-by: Tom