CLUB HEAD WANTS QUEBEC TO RUN MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACCESS PLAN

The founder of the Montreal Compassion Club wants Quebec to take over
the administration of the federal Medical Marijuana Access program in
the province.

Marc-Boris St-Maurice said yesterday the program is "an embarrassing
oxymoron."

He complained about major delays processing applications, licence
renewals and changes of address.

"Eighteen months ago we requested a supply of application forms for
our clients which we still have not received," he said. "There are
also frequent disturbing reports of doctors being pressured by Health
Canada bureaucrats to reduce their patients' recommended daily dosage."

St-Maurice wants Quebec Health Minister Philippe Couillard to
intervene and hopes to meet with provincial Health Department
officials in the coming weeks.

"The field of health is a provincial jurisdiction and we believe that
it would be more appropriate if this program was managed by our
province instead of Ottawa," St-Maurice said.

Couillard said yesterday although he's not against the idea it's too
soon to say whether the Quebec government should be in charge of
medical marijuana in the province.

He added that he first wants to see the scientific evidence that its
use is beneficial and therapeutic.

"I want to make sure that it's necessary and that there are no other
options and that it's the only solution."

St-Maurice made his comments at a news conference where he opened a
new storefront location for the Montreal Compassion Club.

The dispensary sells medical marijuana to those who suffer from
illnesses like cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and HIV-AIDS.

The club first opened in 1999 but was shut down a year later when
St-Maurice was arrested. It reopened in 2003 after St-Maurice was
acquitted of marijuana trafficking.

He said the new location, which has a dispensing counter displaying
various types of marijuana, is more spacious and is
wheelchair-accessible.

He said about 10 per cent of the club's 1,000 members have licences
from the federal government authorizing them to buy medical marijuana
and others have their doctor's authorization.