Pubdate: Thu, 05 Sep 2002
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2002, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Shane Holladay, Edmonton Sun
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

PRESCRIPTION FOR CHANGE

Canadians should be able to choose marijuana as a medical option without a 
doctor's approval, says a special Senate committee recommending the drug be 
legalized.

Some concern remains about how effective pot is in easing pain, said 
Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, chairman of the Special Senate Committee on 
Illegal Drugs.

And as it stands now, doctors have too much power to control access to 
medical exemption status, Nolin said.

"We've analysed how the regulations were implemented," he said. "We found 
out doctors have too much of a role to play. They are the gatekeepers."

"We don't think that's appropriate."

The committee's report, released yesterday, recommends pot be legalized and 
made available to Canadians, much like alcohol is.

More importantly, additional research needs to be done on medical uses for 
marijuana, Nolin said.

Health Minister Anne McLellan said she will take the report's 
recommendations seriously, but said that it's "much too soon to say whether 
we would move in that direction."

"Clinical trials would still be required," McLellan said at a meeting of 
health ministers in Banff.

"Now, I know Senator Nolan has some recommendations in that area, but in 
fact I haven't had the opportunity to review them."

If legalized, pot with THC levels higher that 10% should be only available 
by prescription, Nolin stressed.

"High THC is better because you smoke less," said Munir Ahmad, who runs the 
Edmonton Compassion Network, which helps provide medical exemptees with 
marijuana.

The report might just scare off support because it recommends 16-year-olds 
be legally allowed to obtain pot, he said.

"What's going to happen, I don't know. It's just a report from the Senate, 
big deal."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager