Subj: Canada: Grass is greener at Health Ministry



Pubdate: Sat, 30 Oct 1999



Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)



Author: Paul Cowan, Edmonton Sun





GRASS IS GREENER AT HEALTH MINISTRY



Marijuana Samples Swamp Minister



Federal Health Minister Allan Rock says some pot growers are so keen to get

a contract to supply medicinal marijuana they're sending samples to his

hotel room.



"It used to be when I went to a hotel room there'd be a basket of flowers -

now I find four potted plants," he quipped during an interview with radio

show hosts Jake Daniels and Matt Mauler on The Bear's drive-time radio show

yesterday. Rock said samples are also being sent to his Ottawa office.



"They want to grow this stuff for the Government of Canada." And Rock held

out hope for Canadian cannibis growers.



"I'm going to insist on a Canadian source. Are we a country or not?" he asked.



In June, Health Canada asked for tenders to supply marijuana for clinical

tests on its medicinal properties when smoked.



Mauler said he was delighted the minister bought into the spirit of the

program. "We asked him the fun questions and he was very into it.



"He had the chance to speak tongue-in-cheek in the sort of way you'd be

crucified for if you did on the National.



"I think it's important to show that there is more to a politician than the

usual 10-second soundbite we usually get, and they are not all the same."



Rock was in Edmonton to announce a $2.6-million cash infusion to help

at-risk mothers in Alberta.