Pubdate: Mon, 12 May 2003 Source: Associated Press (Wire) Copyright: 2003 Associated Press MONTREAL -- Ottawa's much-anticipated legislation aimed at decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana would still end up punishing those who need the drug for medical purposes, an advocate for medicinal cannabis said Monday. "This scheme is essentially picking on poor people," Hilary Black, spokesman for the British Columbia Compassion Club Society, told a news conference. "People who are ill tend to be living in the most poverty." They are often forced to choose between food and marijuana because the current laws often force users to pay street prices of between $150 to $300 per ounce, said Black. "The cost of medicinal cannabis right now is closer to the cost of gold than it is to the cost of tomatoes, which in terms of production costs is what it should be closer to," said Black. Black suggested that health care insurance help subsidize medicinal marijuana, the same way that prescription drugs are covered. The federal government is expected to unveil legislation this week aimed at decriminalizing possession of marijuana in amounts below 15 grams. Decriminalization does not legalize marijuana possession. But instead of mandatory court appearances and the risk of a criminal record, offenders could face fines similar to traffic violations. Health Canada currently allows approved patients to smoke marijuana to relieve pain and nausea associated with illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease and hepatitis. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth