Criminal Code  Judges will have to determine whether the forfeiture is appropriate given the nature of the crime. Presumably a house may not be forfeited if five marijuana plants are found in it but it could be if 500 or 5,000 plants are found in it. There are still many significant deficiencies in the bill that require further address or amendments.

Criminal Code  As well, there is the whole question of cornfields and farmers. It does not take boy scouts to be able to plant entire fields of marijuana and to intimidate farmers. Organized crime is behind that. A look at the map of Quebec makes it very clear—and this is what all Bloc Quebecois MPs from this region are also saying—that there are many such crops.

Marijuana  Speaker, this morning, the Minister of Justice said she was open to the idea of decriminalizing the simple possession of drugs. However we know that those who use marijuana for therapeutic purposes are in a particularly difficult situation. Would the minister agree to move quickly for those already using marijuana for therapeutic purposes so that they no longer have to face the threat of being charged?

Canadian Institutes Of Health Research Act  I will conclude with something that, while not personal, is very close to my heart, the whole issue of the use of marijuana for medical purposes. I have been saying for a long time that we needed to invest in research. Canada has lagged far behind other countries for a long time, compared to what has been done in the way of research in California and in England.

Drug Legalization  Speaker, I can inform the House that at this time the government has no plans to legalize the possession of marijuana. The hon. member knows that the whole issue around drug enforcement is a complex one. It is a health issue. It is a legal issue. It is an international law issue. It is a law enforcement issue.

Health  Speaker, last June the Minister of Health tabled an announcement regarding the medical use of marijuana in a Health Canada document on the medical use of marijuana. The minister, under section 56 of the act, exempted two persons. Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health explain to the House what other actions have been taken over the summer?

Health  Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. There are indications that marijuana could be beneficial for the relief of pain and nausea in cancer, AIDS, MS and glaucoma patients. Is the minister supportive of making marijuana medically available to persons in medical need and of supporting research into the medical effectiveness of marijuana?

Drugs  Speaker, the November 2000 issue of Reader's Digest contains an article written by Larry Collins entitled “Holland's Half-Baked Drug Experiment”. Twenty-four years after the legalization of marijuana, the results are terrifying. “We have left our kids with the idea that it's perfectly all right to smoke it, and from there it was an easy step for them to move to the notion that it's also okay to use mind-altering substances like ecstasy”.

Speech From The Throne  On this side of course there were MPs who would support opposition private members' bills, and opposition private members' bills actually did pass. I remember there was one from the Bloc Quebecois dealing with the medical use of marijuana. That was an opposition private member's bill and it passed. It received support from the backbench MPs here. It had nothing to do with the cabinet. It had everything to do with the backbench MPs on this side recognizing that an opposition MP had an excellent bill and that it should be supported, and it was supported.

Marijuana  Speaker, pursuant to an order of the House made May 25, 1999, I have the honour to table copies of a document entitled “Research Plan for the Use of Marijuana for Medical Purposes: A Status Report”.

Health  Back in March the member for London West asked the minister if he was supportive of approving the medical use of marijuana. The minister committed to clinical trials of marijuana, access to a safe supply and guidelines for its use. Will the minister tell the House what progress he has made to date?

Health  I am happy to tell the House this afternoon that a little later today I will table the government's research plan for the medical use of marijuana. I am also happy to say that I will be exercising my power under section 56 of the relevant statute to permit exemptions to two very sick people to use marijuana for medical purposes.

Marijuana  Mr. Speaker, by voting heavily in favour of my motion on the legalization of marijuana for therapeutic purposes, this House has clearly demonstrated its desire to move quickly in order to bring relief to patients in need of this drug. Today, everyone is asking the same question: when will the Minister of Health table his calendar of clinical trials so that this drug may be legalized as quickly as possible?

Marijuana  Mr. Speaker, I will be very clear. No decision has yet been made on the source of the marijuana for medical purposes, and, as I said clearly, I am awaiting the results of the work by officials.

Medical Use Of Marijuana  As I have already said in the House, we intend to start clinical trials later this year. The government intends to pursue research on the medical use of marijuana for people who are gravely ill.