cannabisnews.com: Reaction Mixed to Canada's Testing of M. Marijuana





Reaction Mixed to Canada's Testing of M. Marijuana
Posted by FoM on March 04, 1999 at 11:32:38 PT

OTTAWA Reaction is mixed to an announcement from the federal health minister about clinical tests on the use of marijuana for medical reasons. 
The response ranges from cautious optimism to outright skepticism. But almost everyone agrees it's a first step on a controversial path. Grant Hill'Is this the first step by the Liberal government decriminalizing marijuana for other purposes?' Allan Rock told the House of Commons that he had ordered officials to develop clinical trials for the medical use of marijuana and to find out how to grant safe access to the drug. Benedict Fisher, of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, is cautiously optimistic, but says Rock has left too many unanswered questions. Rock's announcement also didn't impress Toronto AIDS patient James Wakeford -- the first Canadian to launch a civil lawsuit against Ottawa for the right to use marijuana for medical purposes. Allan Rock'Clinical trials will allow us to get research to know more about how we can help.' Wakeford says he's tried using other medications that contain synthetic THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, but they haven't worked. The idea of using marijuana to ease the pain of Canadians who are terminally ill with cancer or AIDS isn't new. Several groups have pushed for its medical use and for its full legalization. Some are concerned the medical use of marijuana may lead to a wider acceptance. Reform health critic Grant Hill is among them. "My question is: is this the first step by the Liberal government decriminalizing marijuana for other purposes?" Hill said in the Commons yesterday. Rock insists the government isn't looking to legalize pot. "Clinical trials will allow us to get research to know more about how we can help," he said. But some advocates of medical marijuana use say clinical trials will only prolong the wait for the relief the drug can bring. Defence lawyers who have argued criminal cases against the medical use of marijuana say the announcement is confusing and points to a lengthy testing process. "What are the policies going to be? What are the guidelines? Who gets it, who doesn't? Who's going to run the tests? And what worries me is that these are the kind of questions that take an awful long time to sort out," said lawyer Aaron Harnett. Many scientists approve of the slow process however, saying the benefits of using marijuana medically have not yet been proven. The United Nations is urging more scientific research and less political debate over the drug's use. Several states from Canada's closest neighbor have already approved the medical use of marijuana. It was taken to a vote in seven U.S. states and the District of Columbia. http://www.cbcnews.cbc.ca/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/cnews/templates/view.cgi?/news/1999/03/04/marijuana990304
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