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. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager