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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Canada: New Pot Rules Proposed
Dennis Bueckert Calgary Sun, The (CN AB)
Tuesday 03 Apr 2001 OTTAWA ( CP ) -- The federal government is set to propose new regulations this week making marijuana more accessible for people suffering from serious illnesses. It's expected the new regulations will address a contradiction in current regulations, which allow people with illnesses to use marijuana but provide no legal route of supply. "When we first announced some time ago that we'd make marijuana available for medical purposes it's because some people believe that for those who are seriously ill or in discomfort it can be of assistance, so it was based on compassion," Health Minister Allan Rock said Tuesday. "The steps we propose in the regulations which will be tabled next week or later this week, will be intended to carry through on that in a very practical way." The proposed changes will likely widen the gap between Canadian policies and those in the United States, where the federal government still sees marijuana as a major target in its "war on drugs." The U.S. government has gone to court to stop the operation of "cannabis clubs" in California, saying there is no medical use for marijuana, contrary to lower court rulings in that state. In contrast, Ottawa intends to comply with an Ontario ruling last year that found the law banning possession of marijuana unconstitutional and gave the federal government one year to amend it. The intention is to get new rules in place by July 31 to comply with a court-ordered deadline, said Catherine Lappe, Rock's press secretary, in an interview Tuesday. The proposed amendments will likely be published in the Canada Gazette this week, with public comment invited for a 30-day period. Currently, people with serious illnesses can apply for exemption from prosecution for growing or using marijuana, and some 210 people have obtained exemptions. Many applications have stalled or been rejected. "There's still a lot of stumbling blocks and bureaucracy involved, even after an application's been supported medically," said Tim McClemont, executive director of the Hepatitis C Society of Canada. Last month, police raided the home of Toronto AIDS patient Jim Wakeford, who has a permit to use marijuana. They seized about 200 cannabis plants he was growing for himself and chronically ill friends. In February two men were charged with trafficking after police raided Montreal's Club Compassion, one of several clubs that have sprung up across the country for medical marijuana users. Michel Perron, chief executive officer of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, said marijuana should be made available with a doctor's prescription. "There's a tremendous amount of anecdotal evidence that ... there might be some benefits to the use of cannabis for certain conditions," said Perron. "I think the intention of Health Canada is to facilitate access to marijuana on a trial basis to determine whether it is in fact helpful for them ( and ) to undertake some research into what are the consequences of its use." Reports suggest the new rules would allow a patient who is ill to designate another person as a supplier, which would be a significant step beyond current regulations.
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