Pubdate: Fri, 20 Aug 2004 Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON) Copyright: 2004 The Ottawa Citizen Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326 Author: Russell Barth EMBARRASSING MESS Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh risks being seen as an unreasonable prohibitionist if he doesn't direct his ministry with integrity. He has an opportunity now to do the right thing, but he likely won't. Under former health ministers Pierre Pettigrew and Anne McLellan, the medical marijuana program was an embarrassing shambles, and it remains so today. Many doctors refuse to sign the medical marijuana licence because the paperwork is dysfunctional, confusing and unconstitutional. Health Canada often says that there is not enough scientific evidence that cannabis is safe medicine. This is not true. There are dozens of international reports to suggest that cannabis is one of the safest medicines known to man. Many dangerous chemicals, painkillers, anti-depressants and tranquilizers are put on the market with far less scrutiny than cannabis has been subjected to. It is starting to appear as though the federal government has some sort of vested interest in prohibition. By keeping safe medicine from Canadians, they play right into the hands of the pharmaceutical industry lobbyists. When will this government start doing the will of the people, instead of the will of big business? Russell Barth, Ottawa - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake