Pubdate: Tue, 07 May 2002 Source: Williams Lake Tribune, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2002 Williams Lake Tribune Contact: http://www.wltribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1226 Author: Catherine Coulter Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada) POT EASES SICK MAN'S SYMPTOMS Without marijuana, Tim James says he would suffer immensely from symptoms of Hepatitis C and the drugs he takes to treat his illness. An ex-marine, Tim has lived in Williams Lake for most of his life. His troubles began in 1986 when the fuel truck he was driving for Shell Oil blew up. After the accident, Tim had a number of operations, 27 blood transfusions, and was unable to work for three years. Depression mounted on top of his health problems. An avid Red Cross blood donor, Tim went in to donate in 1992. Shortly after, he received a letter from the Red Cross notifying him he had Hepatitis C. Tim says he was in disbelief and shock when he found out he contracted the disease. He says he always felt like it was his duty to donate blood to the Red Cross, a service he would no longer be able to fulfil. Tim is currently receiving a treatment for Hep C called Interferon. Tim gets three shots a week and takes six pills a day. According to Tim and his wife of 21 years, Charlotte, the medication makes him angry to the point of having violent thoughts. He has turned to marijuana to help him. "The marijuana helps to calm me down," says Tim. " I smoke marijuana to ease my illness. And if I don't smoke, I don't eat." When he does eat, Charlotte adds, he can't keep it down. Tim says sometimes he is so angry he scares his wife, and Charlotte concurs. Severe muscle cramps, diabetes, permanent arthritis, nausea, fatigue, depression and vicious mood swings are all side effects of Interferon. "Most of his anger is from a chemical reaction to the drug. Interferon is a type of chemotherapy," says Charlotte. "He's half way through his treatment, and it could put him in remission. He has a 50 per cent chance. "(The marijuana) definitely helps - definitely. It helps him sleep and be pleasant, and helps his depression. We just take it one day at a time. It's been tough since the day he got burned - it's a hard road." Charlotte says they would like marijuana to be decriminalized so they can grow it in the backyard "beside our carrots." Tim has appealed to his doctors, unsuccessfully, to help him obtain a permit to use marijuana medicinally. Health Canada's regulations state that declarations from two medical specialists must accompany an application, and Charlotte says Tim's doctors aren't willing to do it because of insurance purposes. "He's not changing doctors right now," says Charlotte. "He's too sick." Tim will continue to smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes, and Charlotte supports that. It's not like it's difficult for him to get, however if he gets caught with it, he could be facing a fine and/or jail. According to Sergeant Merv Pointer getting busted with less than 30 grams of marijuana is a straight summary conviction with a maximum fine of $1,000 and/or six months in jail. - --- MAP posted-by: Ariel