Pubdate: Mon, 11 Feb 2008
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2008 Southam Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Shannon Kari,  National Post
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Marijuana - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal - Canada)

MEDICAL MARIJUANA ADVOCATES CRY FOUL

Lawyer Cites 'Cycle of Ignorance'

It was more than 35 years ago that the LeDain Commission recommended 
marijuana be decriminalized in Canada.

Attempts to suppress or even control its use were failing, possession 
laws were enforced on a "selective and discriminatory" basis and its 
prohibited status invited "exploitation" by criminal elements, 
concluded the Royal Commission in 1972.

It suggested the government regulate cannabis in the same way as 
alcohol, which resulted in proposed legislation to decriminalize 
possession. The bill died on the order paper when a federal election 
was called in 1974, in the same way that a similar bill died 30 years later.

Today, discussion about reforming the country's marijuana laws is not 
on the political landscape. If anything, the country is moving in the 
opposite direction.

The government of Stephen Harper has ruled out any changes to the 
law, and during a visit to marijuana-friendly Vancouver last week, 
Liberal leader Stephane Dion said his party is not going to advocate 
for the end of criminal sanctions for possession.

Another sign that the marijuana lobby has lost political momentum is 
the recent announcement by Marc Emery that he is giving up his 
extradition fight. The self-professed "Prince of Pot" is negotiating 
a plea bargain with U.S. authorities to try to reduce a prison 
sentence for selling marijuana seeds over the Internet.

As well, almost 45,000 criminal charges for simple possession 
continue to be laid each year, up nearly 20% from a decade ago.

Even the 2,200 people in Canada authorized to possess marijuana for 
medical reasons have not been able to convince Health Canada to ease 
restrictions to make it easier to access a legal supply of what they 
consider to be their medicine.

Late last month, the federal government appealed a federal court 
ruling that found medical marijuana regulations to be 
unconstitutional for the third time in eight years.

"There is a cycle of ignorance that seems impossible to transcend" in 
any discussion about marijuana, suggested Alan Young, a professor at 
Osgoode Hall law school in Toronto, who has represented chronically 
ill people in a number of medicalmarijuana court challenges. "We are 
either running on the spot or moving backwards," he said.

Medical-marijuana users have long complained about the bureaucratic 
obstacles in dealing with Health Canada when it involves licences for 
legal possession or production of the drug.

Its actions have also repeatedly been criticized by the courts. Part 
of the medical-marijuana regulations were struck down in 2003 by the 
Ontario Court of Appeal because there was not a sufficient legal 
supply of the drug and designated producers were permitted to grow 
for only one person with a licence to possess.

In response, Health Canada reenacted virtually the same restrictions.

As a result, Federal Court Justice Barry Strayer ruled last month 
that the new regulations were also unconstitutional.

He noted that fewer than 20% the people with licences to possess 
marijuana acquire it from Prairie Plant Systems Inc., the company 
licensed to produce for Health Canada.

Requiring citizens to break the law and access the black market to 
acquire their medicine is "contrary to the rule of law," said the 
75-year-old judge, who was a senior official in the federal Justice 
Department in the late 1970s.

The government's appeal of the decision is part of an ongoing 
strategy to marginalize the medical marijuana program, suggested Mr. 
Young. "This is a program the government never wanted to undertake," he said.

For medical users with licences to produce their own marijuana, there 
is also the constant threat of criminal prosecution.

Derek Pedro, a 35-year-old former construction industry employee who 
suffers from a connective tissue disorder, said he is still trying to 
rebuild his life after five police officers in Hamilton raided his 
home in January, 2007. Police seized 15 seedlings and charged Mr. 
Pedro with production offences, even though he has licences to 
possess and to grow marijuana. Eight months later, all charges were 
withdrawn. "I am stressed all the time. I start shaking when I see 
police," Mr. Pedro said. "I thought I had rights."

Using marijuana has been effective in dealing with his chronic pain 
and it has also enabled him to dramatically reduce his intake of such 
pharmaceutical drugs as OxyContin, Mr. Pedro said. The marijuana he 
produces costs him less than one-sixth the price that Health Canada 
charges for the product from Prairie Plant Systems, he noted.

Even the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police agrees there is 
need for improvement in access for approved medical-marijuana users.

"We need to find a better way to get that drug to them in a safe and 
reliable way," said Fredericton police Chief Barry MacKnight, who 
heads the organization's drug-abuse committee.

As well, the association has supported changes to the marijuana 
possession laws so that police could impose fines if appropriate. 
"Police officers must have the discretion to decide whether to issue 
a ticket or to send it to court," stressed Chief MacKnight, who does 
not support outright legalization of what he described as a harmful drug.

The tens of thousands of possession charges laid each year are likely 
individuals who face a number of other charges as well and not 
someone "standing on the corner smoking a joint," Chief MacKnight said.

The ongoing criminal prohibition against marijuana is a useful tool 
for police because it can be used as a pretext to search cars and 
homes for evidence of more serious crimes, said Vancouver defence 
lawyer Simon Buck.

While the public may approve of these tactics when police find 
weapons or other illegal items, it is impossible to know how many 
times these searches come up empty-handed, Mr. Buck said. "You never 
hear about those cases," he said. 
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