Pubdate: Sat, 04 Jan 2003 Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB) Copyright: 2003 The Calgary Sun Contact: http://www.fyicalgary.com/calsun.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/67 Author: Maria McClintock, Ottawa Bureau Bookmarks: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada) http://www.mapinc.org/people/Terry+Parker (Terry Parker) FEDS ROLL OUT APPEAL ON POT RULING OTTAWA -- The federal government has filed an appeal of an Ontario court decision that ruled there are no laws forbidding the possession of small amounts of pot. Jim Leising, the Justice Department's director of prosecution in the province, confirmed yesterday the federal government is appealing so the laws surrounding possession of pot for recreational use will be clarified. "We're hoping the appeal will be heard quickly," said Leising. "Whatever uncertainty that was created by this judgment would be cleared up, and that would mean everyone would be in agreement that the prohibition against possession of marijuana is valid." Justice Douglas Phillips threw out charges against a 16-year-old Windsor, Ont., teen Wednesday, siding with the defence lawyer's argument there are no laws in Canada prohibiting the possession of 30 grams of pot or less. The defence also argued that the feds failed to deal with a two-year ruling from the Ontario Court of Appeal which backed Terry Parker's right to smoke pot for medicinal purposes. Ottawa's response to the Parker ruling was the Marijuana Medical Access Regulations, which give the green light to Canadians to smoke and possess pot for medical reasons under specific circumstances. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake