cannabisnews.com: McLellan Denies Plan To Shelve Medicinal Pot McLellan Denies Plan To Shelve Medicinal Pot Posted by CN Staff on August 20, 2002 at 15:00:06 PT By Allison Dunfield, Globe and Mail Update Source: Globe and Mail Canada's Health Minister rejected reports published Tuesday saying that she has shelved a federal plan to supply marijuana to people for medicinal purposes."That couldn't be further from the truth," Anne McLellan told CTV Newsnet on Tuesday during a break in Liberal caucus meetings in Chicoutimi, Que. "And in fact, there has been no change in the government's policy." On Monday, during a speech to the Canadian Medical Association, Ms. McLellan said that she feels uncomfortable with the idea of people smoking pot to relieve pain, and that Ottawa will not distribute marijuana for medicinal purposes until clinical trials are completed — trials that have yet to begin.She said, however, that Ottawa is not going to back away from its controversial $5.7-million plan to grow medicinal marijuana.She said she is following a "parallel track" launched by her predecessor, former health minister Allan Rock, who was a strong supporter of the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.Ms. McLellan said any decisions made on such a use of marijuana should be left up to the courts.She said proper clinical trials must be conducted and completed first."Like any product that is a medical product, clinical trials are important. Decisions we make about use have to be evidence-based," Ms. McLellan said Tuesday.But she said that the trials are proceeding."That was always part of the plan and continues to be part of the plan."Nonetheless, doctors of the CMA have led a powerful lobby against prescribing pot as medicine, arguing it has not been tested for safety or efficacy. As well, sources say, Ms. McLellan has been swayed by concerns from U.S. officials that Canada would be making cannabis more available.With reports from Carolyn Abraham and André PicardSource: Globe and Mail (Canada)Author: Allison Dunfield, Globe and Mail UpdatePublished: Tuesday, August 20, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Globe and Mail CompanyContact: letters globeandmail.caWebsite: http://www.globeandmail.ca/Related Articles & Web Sites:Health Canadahttp://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/Canadian Medical Associationhttp://www.cma.ca/Ottawa Shelves Medicinal Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13807.shtmlMcLellan Admits Med Pot Makes Her Uncomfortablehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13804.shtmlMinister Considers New Look at Legal System http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13732.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by The GCW on August 20, 2002 at 16:39:16 PT Pot activist dies in boat accident Pot activist dies in boat accident Times Colonist (Victoria) Tuesday, August 20, 2002 Ian Hunter Marijuana activist Ian Hunter, a former mayoral candidate in Victoria, died in Nelson last week in an apparent boating accident.He was 41.Hunter was in the forefront of the fight to have hemp and marijuana legalized. His activism began in Vancouver in the 1980s and continued in Victoria where he opened the Sacred Herb hemp shop.He ran afoul of local authorities in 1996 when he grew a marijuana plant in the store and sold pot seeds.Sarah Bedard managed the store while Hunter waged his activist campaign, then bought it when he could no longer get a business licence. She said her former boss continued his pro-pot ways after moving to Nelson two years ago.He was working at a store called Holy Smoke, and took part in the pro-marijuana Church of the Universe Hour on Kootenay Co-op Radio.As well, said Bedard, he was working with the Valhalla Institute promoting alternative lifestyles.Bedard said Hunter was a colourful, unique character."He was so animated, so alive in what he did," Bedard said. "He really believed in the causes he supported, he was really open about what he believed in."She said there will be a memorial service for Hunter in Victoria sometime in the next two weeks, though details have not been finalized.She suggested that anyone seeking details contact her at the Sacred Herb, 384-0659.http://www.canada.com/search/site/story.asp?ID=C334D3F7-4CB7-4CFE-94E8-B41CB73473FAhttp://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1540/a09.html?397P.S. I'm suspicious. If anyone finds out there were cops near by, I'd like to know. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Naaps on August 20, 2002 at 16:12:40 PT McLellan is Being Guided If only Anne McLellan could step back from the fray of doctors, calls from down south, and the other influence peddlers of the people control industry and think about the consequences of delay. On one hand, if she could have empathy by seeing patients medicating themselves, then all the calls for more testing, and a standardized product could be seen in the light of suffering people, desperately battling serious painful disease. On the other hand, she could see that it is posturing, all the vested interests against a plant - a very useful herb - and set against the innate human right to ingest and use as one pleases because it is one’s own body.But idly fence sitting is McLellan’s style. She used it well as Justice Minister, not signing extradition papers for Renee Bennett, nee Boje.The fact is that as a Law Professor she probably can be cowed by the established medical community into accepting terms directly specified by the CMA. Hence, rather than seeing her delays as unnecessary hindrances for ill people seeking relief, she believes that a method consistent with the medical system science is absolutely imperative. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on August 20, 2002 at 15:11:54 PT CTV Newsnet Video McLellan Rethinking Medical Marijuana Plans http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20020820/mclellan_medicinal_pot_020820/Canada/story/ [ Post Comment ] Post Comment