CANADA TO STUDY MEDICAL MARIJUANA

OTTAWA - Canada's health minister has authorized clinical trials
to determine if marijuana is a useful medicine for people suffering
from terminal illnesses and other painful conditions.

But the minister, Allan Rock, stressed during debate in Parliament on
Wednesday that the decision did not mean the government was moving
toward wider legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes.

"There are Canadians who are suffering from terminal illnesses, who
are in pain or suffering from difficult symptoms, who believe that
smoking medical marijuana can help with their symptoms," Rock said.

"There's all kinds of anecdotal evidence. There's no scientific
evidence," he said. "Clinical trials will help us develop that
evidence in a calm, rational way."

There were no immediate details about how long the trials might take
or how they would be conducted.

Aside from gathering scientific evidence, Rock said he wants officials
to examine how to provide access to a safe supply of medical marijuana
for those who might need it.

"I think Canadians support, on a compassionate basis, if someone is
dying, access to a substance that could alleviate their symptoms," he
said.

Several Canadian activists in recent years have been arrested and put
on trial because of their campaigns to legalize the medical use of
marijuana.

Proponents say marijuana alleviates a wide range of medical problems,
including nausea from chemotherapy and pressure on the eyes from glaucoma.

There is no current provision for Canadians to possess marijuana
legally for medicinal reasons.