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2 - Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, July 23,2003 Subscriptions $29.91 + $2.09 GST = $32.00 per year. Publications Mail Registration No. 09301 • Agreement No. 40012366 Publishing 48 issues annually at the office of publication. "We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. " Orono Weekly Times 5310 Main Street, P.O. Box 209, Orono, Ontario LOB 1M0 Email: oronotimes@speedline.ca • Phone/Fax 905-983-5301 Publisher/Editor Margaret Zwart The Orono Weekly Times welcomes letters to the editor on subjects of interest to our readers. Opinions expressed to the editor and articles are those of the writers and do not necessarily necessarily reflect the opinions of the Orono Weekly times. Letters must be signed and contain the address and phone number of the writer. Any letter considered unsuitable will not be acknowledged or returned. We reserve the right to edit for length, libel and slander. If your retail or classified ad appears for the first time, please check carefully. Notice of an error must be given before the next issue goes to print. The Orono Weekly Times will not be responsible for the loss or damage of such items. Ramblings If Clifford can get away with a "Dribbling" column surely I can get away with a "Rambling" one. From my desk, I can look all the way down Park Street, over the fairgrounds, across the highway into Moffat's hill where the cows are again making their slow steady sashay across the green meadow. It's comforting in a way, to see how those cows never deviate from their routine no matter matter the weather, in any season, steady-as-she- goes, walking and chewing, head down, back and forth across the field. Wars have raged, dynasties toppled, and campaigns launched. In fact, we're in an election campaign right now and those cows could care less. It seems no one else could care less at the moment either. The only position right now that will not be acclaimed is the Mayor's seat. Richard Ward of Kirby has registered as a candidate for Mayor of Clarington so at least there will be some debate of issues before the November 3rd Municipal vote. We've had a rare Cop Knopp sighting today. The Village Constable, Greg Knopp whom we now share with Newcastle village as well as the rest of rural Clarington, is now seldom seen in Orono. Word has it--the Snow White head-snatching case has him scratching his own head. The Orono Town Hall which had been looking rather neglected of late, received a much-needed sprucing-up in the front garden today. The town hall is a hive of activity these weeks as the location for the Municipality of Clarington's drama camp. Kids get bussed in from all over Clarington to spend the day here in Orono taking drama instruction in the historic historic town hall and spending time at the Orono pool and park. It's great seeing our resources used so extensively. Even the flowers downtown downtown look terrific this year. Our local Aussie mate turned 60 today. Happy Birthday John Thomson. Any age is the right age to go baaaaaack to your roots. Holidays are wonderful aren't they? The next paper will be published August 13th. Till then... VIEWPOINT Re: Therapeutic marijuana "Action taken has been neither swift nor decisive" Dear Editor, Use of marijuana for therapeutic purposes was agreed to by the House of Commons on May 25th 1999. In the more than four years since, no clinical evaluations have been compileted. Indeed, the one begun has been cancelled amid controversy, as a result the medical profession profession is not participating in the programme announced by the Minister of Health on July 9th. As well law enforcement enforcement officers are concerned concerned about abuses developing developing from authorization of more than 400 individu als to cultivate a crop for their use and their not being informed who these are so potential problems can be avoided. "We support this initiative initiative cautiously and encourage encourage the government to move swiftly and decisively. decisively. .. A fast response and a strict guide or criteria are needed, as is a clear definition definition that doctors' prescriptions prescriptions will be granted therefore therefore avoiding litigation, confusion and further delay." was the position I took in 1999. Action taken has been neither swift nor decisive. The recent steps rushed to meet the deadline of a judicial order of an Ontario judge are interim and may be swept away. They are unacceptable to doctors and the patients who are directly affected. They are as well to those in the general general population who expect their government to act with greater diligence than a stop gap plan four years in the coming. Yours truly, Michael Bailey Legislative Assistant to Peter MacKay, MP Leader PC Party Canada Pictou-Antigonish- Guysborough