Pubdate: Thu, 07 Jul 2005
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Laura Czekaj
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada)

WEEDING OUT A LEGAL PROBLEM

A licensed medical marijuana user charged with cultivating her own medicine 
has had all charges against her stayed.

Wheelchair-bound Margaret Harrington was jubilant yesterday after her 
appearance in a Kemptville court.

"I'm free and that's what I wanted," she said.

The Crown attorney motioned to have the charge of possession of an 
unlawfully produced substance stayed for the next year. Harrington said the 
items seized upon her arrest are to be returned to her.

SNIFFED OUT

Harrington was arrested on April 22 after OPP officers discovered 10 
marijuana plants growing in her basement. The officers were there on a 
separate matter when they smelled the plants.

At the time, Harrington had a Health Canada permit allowing her to possess 
marijuana for medical purposes, but she did not have a grower's licence 
which would enable her to grow up to 25 plants. The second permit arrived 
in the mail two days after her arrest, she said.

She had originally applied for the permit because she says 
government-issued pot is "sub-standard."

Harrington said police need to be better educated about medical marijuana 
possession to prevent similar incidents.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom