Pubdate: Tue, 13 May 2003 Source: Medicine Hat News (CN AB) Copyright: 2003 Alberta Newspaper Group, Inc. Contact: http://www.medicinehatnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1833 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada) MOVE WON'T AID MEDICINAL USERS ARGUES COMPASSION CLUB SOCIETY MONTREAL (CP) -- Ottawa's much-anticipated legislation aimed at decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana would still end up punishing those who need the drug for medical purposes, an advocate for medicinal cannabis said Monday. "This scheme is essentially picking on poor people," Hilary Black, spokesperson for the British Columbia Compassion Club Society, told a news conference. "People who are ill tend to be living in the most poverty." They are often forced to choose between food and marijuana because the current laws often force users to pay street prices of between $150 to $300 per ounce, said Black. The federal government is expected to unveil legislation this week aimed at decriminalizing possession of marijuana in amounts below 15 grams. Decriminalization does not legalize marijuana possession. But instead of mandatory court appearances and the risk of a criminal record, offenders could face fines similar to traffic violations. Health Canada currently allows approved patients to smoke marijuana to relieve pain and nausea associated with illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease and hepatitis. But the approval is often difficult and time-consuming to obtain, said Philippe Lucas, director of the Vancouver Island Compassion Society. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh