Pubdate: Sat, 16 Aug 2014
Source: Prince George Citizen (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Prince George Citizen
Contact:  http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/350
Author: Christine Hinzmann
Page: 3
Cited: R. v. Smith: http://mapinc.org/url/SFsYRnzS

MEDICAL POT USER PLEASED WITH COURT RULING

A Prince George senior who has been using medical marijuana for years
is praising a B.C. Appeal Court decision.

The ruling, which declared unconstitutional the limiting of medical
marijuana use to only its dried form, could open the door to use the
substance in any form, including oils, butters, cookies or even
steeped in or as tea.

The decision states medical marijuana access regulations infringe on
the charter rights of people requiring other forms of cannabis to
treat illnesses.

"I think in the long run, everyone will benefit from this change,"
said Tom (not his real name), a 65-year-old local man who has been
using marijuana for three years to manage anxiety and to help him
sleep after successfully battling throat cancer.

"I rather suspect those using medical marijuana will be quite happy
with that news," said Tom, who was featured in The Citizen in June
2013, when the government first announced its plan to stop licenced
growers who would then have to go to dispensaries for their pot.

Tom was licenced for up to 25 plants but he only grew about half of
that. Using the pot he grew in his garage, he made marijuana-infused
butter for use in cookie recipes. He eats one cookie each evening to
help him sleep. Now he has stopped growing as his licence has expired.

A separate court decision is pending to see if people will have to
stop growing their own medical marijuana and access their medicine
only from dispensaries.

"I guess what's looming over them is what's going to develop," said
Tom, who just had a positive five-year check up.

"But it's encouraging to hear that the courts are looking down
favourably on it and looking at it from the constitutional side.
That's the only way this government, I believe, will bend its knee."

Tom wants to make it clear that he certainly does not advocate for
people to use marijuana as a recreational drug.

He said he just wants people who require its use for medical reasons
to be able to do so, instead of being encouraged to pop a bunch of
pharmaceutical drugs.

The Conservative government is attempting to overhaul Canada's medical
marijuana system, which it says is rife with problems ranging from
unsafe grow-ops to infiltration by criminals.

The new regulations restricted medical marijuana production to
commercial growers but in March a judge granted an injunction allowing
those who have a personal production licence to grow medical marijuana
to continue, pending the outcome of a trial to be held at a later date.

"I'm waiting for the other shoe to come down," said Tom. "I suspect it
will be a win-win for both sides. I believe the feds will end up with
the institutionalized marijuana. You've got to remember that this
stuff will be half the strength, cost a lot more and I don't know if
people are going to be able to afford it."

He doesn't think the courts will side with the government completely.
"I think what they're going to say is that sure you can have your
dispensaries to sell this stuff but the people who have been on the
marijuana previous to this ruling will remain on it," Tom said. "I
think there's going to be a split so new people will have to go into
their program."

Tom said he probably won't try to get a licence to grow it again if
that becomes an option once again.

"I just don't want the hassle any more," said Tom. But he won't be
going to the dispensary, either. He said he'd take his chances and buy
it on the street.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt