Health Minister Anne McLellan wants to take a cautious approach to medicinal marijuana. The minister says more clarification is needed before the government goes ahead with a controversial plan to distribute medicinal pot.

McLellan told the annual meeting of the Canadian Medical Association that she feels uncomfortable about thei issue. She says for now, clinical tests will still to ahead, to ensure safety of the drug.

"I feel a certain degree of discomfort around this issue," McLellan told doctors attending the association's annual meeting in Saint John, N.B.

"Therefore, while not insensitive to those who believe it helps them in their final days or in an acute illness situation, I do believe we owe it to all Canadians to ensure that we are doing the kinds of things we'd expect to do in relation to any other drug," she said.

The health minister also wants the Supreme Court of Canada to settle legal questions surrounding medicinal pot so that all parties are on more solid ground.

Members of the CMA, which represents 53,000 physicians across the country, gave McLellan a round of applause for her approach. Some physicians are concerned with liability issues surrounding marijuana prescriptions.

Last year, the federal government stipulated that a person wanting to use medical marijuana to relieve pain and stimulate appetite must supply declarations from as many as two medical specialists. The only exception involves terminally ill patients expected to die within a year.

But specialists have been warned against signing the declarations by the CMA, at least two of its provincial counterparts, and the insurer for Canadian doctors.

"It's estimated that one marijuana joint is as harmful as about 10 cigarettes," Dr. Raju Hajela of Kingston, Ont., said during a question-and-answer session with McLellan.

"There's no scientific evidence for the benefit. In my clinical practice, I see the harmful effects every day."

McLellan said she won't consider releasing any of the government marijuana being grown in an old mine in Flin Flon, Man., until clinical trials have been completed.

"I take very seriously the fact that we're called the Department of Health," McLellan said.

"When we approve drugs, we demand scientific evidence based on clinical trials in relation to the effects, both good and bad, to those who would take a certain drug, substance or product. I believe clinical trials in relation to the use of medical marijuana are absolutely key."