Pubdate: Thu, 13 Apr 2000 Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2000 Calgary Herald Contact: P.O. Box 2400, Stn. M, Calgary, Alberta T2P 0W8 Fax: (403) 235-7379 Website: http://www.calgaryherald.com/ Forum: http://forums.canada.com/~calgary Author: Paula Arab, The Canadian Press AIDS VICTIM WANTS OTTAWA TO BE SUPPLIER The first Canadian awarded an exemption by Ottawa to smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes was in court Wednesday seeking a government supply of the illicit drug. Jim Wakeford, who has full-blown AIDS, has unsuccessfully tried to cultivate pot. Now, he is seeking a court order that will force Ottawa to provide him with the drug to deal with his symptoms of nausea and appetite loss. The Ontario Superior Court heard Wednesday that a proposed federal research project could eventually meet Wakeford's drug need, but his lawyer said that won't happen fast enough for his client. `Jim doesn't need research, he's a dying man,' said Louis Sokolov. Wakeford's lawyer told court there are at least two sources of legal marijuana that Health Canada could access - the National Institute of Drug Abuse in the U.S. and a private pharmaceutical company in the U.K. Lawyer Alan Young, who also represents Wakeford, 55, asked court to also grant immunity to caregivers who put themselves in legal jeopardy when supplying Wakeford with pot or helping him cultivate marijuana plants. `To think of someone with a terminal illness having to roam the streets looking for a dealer is really not something I think Canadians will accept or tolerate.' Young said in court. Since a groundbreaking ruling in 1999, when Wakeford won the right to possess, cultivate and use marijuana for the purpose of treating his AIDS-related symptoms, about 35 Canadians have received similar exemptions from Ottawa. While Wednesday's court challenge is specific to Wakeford, court heard it will have an impact on each of the Canadians who has since been given the right to use marijuana for medicinal purposes. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea