cannabisnews.com: Two Patients Get Federal Go-Ahead to Smoke Pot! Two Patients Get Federal Go-Ahead to Smoke Pot! Posted by FoM on June 10, 1999 at 07:58:36 PT Source: CNEWS OTTAWA The federal government has given permission for the cultivation and use of marijuana for medical purposes for the first time in Canadian history. Health Minister Allan Rock announced Wednesday he has granted special exemptions from federal drug law to Jim Wakeford of Toronto and Jean-Charles Pariseau of Vanier, Ont., both of whom have AIDS. "This about showing compassion to people, often dying, suffering from grave debilitating illness," Rock told the Commons on Wednesday. He said the Health Department will soon invite bids from firms interested in supplying marijuana for use in coming clinical trials. "I want a Canadian source," he said outside the House. "We're going to be putting the job out for tender to find someone who can grow us a reliable consistent quality for research purposes." He denied the move is a step toward legalization of marijuana: "No more than the use of heroin or morphine in hospitals is a step toward legalizing them." People with illnesses such as cancer and AIDS have claimed for years that marijuana helps to relieve pain and stimulate appetite. So far there is little solid scientific data to support those claims. Rock said his department will fund clinical trials at several sites, initially using marijuana supplied by the U.S. National Institute of Drug Abuse. He said he has received 30 applications from individuals wishing to use marijuana for medical purposes, and will process them quickly. The Health Department is also negotiating with a British firm to test a non-smoked form of marijuana, which is ingested using an inhaler. Despite the new openness on medical usage of marijuana, federal laws against the drug remain in force and are applied, resulting in many convictions every year. Critics charge the laws are applied unevenly, with low-income youth the main enforcement target. Currently, marijuana is not approved for medical use in any country. Only a few clinical trials have been done, and they've been inconclusive. Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by oldlady#420 on June 10, 1999 at 20:26:56 PT Sending to legislature fantastic idea--- Think I'll email that to my legislature also...Probably via snail mail because a lot of their email address's wiill not accept web mail..LOL. They want to make sure you are not using an alias!! Good night..I am done. Shalom. ol420 Our Friends [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on June 10, 1999 at 13:44:21 PT The U.S.A. Needs To Show Compassion Too! Our Country doesn't like being left in the dust and I bet this is going to stir things up again! Hemp is slowly being legalized! Maybe, just maybe, we will see the laws changed soon! I sure hope so! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by rainbow on June 10, 1999 at 13:19:32 PT: Send this report I have email this to my state legislators. I even wondered if the CO during the Vietnam War had the right idea going to Canada. They do seem to be more compassionate or at lease see the error of their ways sooner.Rainbow [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Ulysses on June 10, 1999 at 12:16:57 PT: finally some compassion! The Canadian government seems like a rather open-minded institution. American political figures should follow their example. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: