Pubdate: Thu, 14 May 2015
Source: Chronicle Herald (CN NS)
Copyright: 2015 The Halifax Herald Limited
Contact:  http://www.herald.ns.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/180
Author: Frances Willick

MAN TO SEEK COMPENSATION AFTER CANNABIS CHARGES DROPPED

A Dartmouth man who was facing drug charges for growing cannabis is
relieved the charges have been dropped, but he plans to seek
compensation for his losses.

Bobbylee Dillman and his wife were charged in March with possession
and production of marijuana.

Those charges were dropped this week, after the Crown claimed that
"evidence was an issue," Dillman said.

"This is a welcome change, but it's also stressful," he said. "I'm
definitely seeking legal action because this can't go on to other patients."

Dillman says he uses cannabis and its oil to treat fibromyalgia,
arthritis, stomach problems and food sensitivities. He had a permit to
grow cannabis, but after the federal government changed the rules
governing licensed marijuana production, Dillman was refused a permit.

He says he cannot buy marijuana from a licensed grower because the
chemicals and irradiation used during production trigger his chemical
sensitivities. Since he was raided in March, he has been obtaining
cannabis from a friend.

Dillman lost 19 plants in the raid, plus equipment and a supply of
cannabis. The plants alone are valued at $19,000, according to the
government's protocol, he says.

Now that the charges are behind him, Dillman says he can focus on
working toward broader change in the governance of medical cannabis.

"Now we can concentrate on the government and how they're dealing with
this. Because they can't be arresting patients, because the stress
they're putting on them is killing them."

Debbie Stultz-Giffin, the chair of Maritimers Unite for Medical
Marijuana Society, said it doesn't make sense to raid and prosecute
users of medical marijuana while legal challenges to the program are
still being processed.

"We think it's imperative that the provincial government stop
prosecuting people who are considered to be patients," Stultz-Giffin
said.

"If someone has their authorization to use cannabis as medicine, until
all of this is sorted out on a federal level as to the
constitutionality of the new program, then this province should simply
stop arresting patients and attempting to prosecute patients because
it's simply a waste of taxpayers dollars."
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MAP posted-by: Matt