Pubdate: Mon, 17 Feb 2003
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: CanWest News Service
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada)

LEGAL POT SMOKER FIGHTS CRD EVICTION

Eric Young has a medical exemption allowing him to legally smoke marijuana.

But that didn't impress some of his neighbours in an apartment run by the 
Capital Region Housing Corp. They complained that Young's marijuana smoke 
permeated the hallways, seeped into other suites and even worsened existing 
health problems of other tenants.

The corporation, run by the Capital Regional District, evicted Young and 
his wife on the basis that the marijuana smoke posed a "nuisance" to other 
tenants.

Young appealed, but an arbitrator upheld the corporation's decision. Young 
then took his case to the courts. This week the B.C. Supreme Court is being 
asked to decide whether a tenant can be evicted for exercising his legal 
right to smoke pot.

Three years ago Young, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, was granted a 
legal exemption by the federal health department to smoke marijuana to ease 
his symptoms. He now smokes about 1.5 grams a day, and says in court 
documents that marijuana is the only medicine he uses, "replacing a 
cocktail of toxic drugs to keep the symptoms and the progression of 
multiple sclerosis at bay."

Young and his wife Marlene say they took every step possible to ensure the 
marijuana smoke didn't escape into the hallways.

They say they were harassed by other tenants who just didn't support the 
idea of marijuana smoking.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager