Pubdate: Tue, 11 May 1999 Source: United Press International Copyright: 1999 United Press International TORONTO AIDS PATIENT MAY USE MARIJUANA TORONTO, - The Canadian government has indicated that it does not intend to appeal an Ontario court ruling that permits a Toronto AIDS patient from using marijuana for medicinal purposes. However, federal Health Minister Allan Rock said today the Ontario Superior Court ruling does not mean that smoking marijuana has been legalized. Rock was commenting on the court ruling handed down on Monday giving 54-year-old Jim Wakeford a constitutional exemption from being prosecuted if he smoked marijuana to relieve his sympton. Justice Harry LaForme also ruled that Wakeford would not have to inform the government where he obtained the marijuana. In March, Rock told reporters his department would carry out clinical tests that could lead to the legalization of marjijana for medicinal purposes. Wakeford first applied in September for exemption from prosecution so he could smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes, but LaForme rejected his request then, after federal lawyers argued that he should apply directly to Rock. Last week, Laforme reopened the case after learning that the federal government ad never had an application process until the eve of the case being reopened. The judge also criticized the government's slowness in dealing with Wakeford's case, and said it was unfair for officials to have required him to disclose the source of his marijuana supply. Wakeford became the second person in Toronto to receive court permission to used marijuana for medicinal purposes. In 1997, a lower court stayed marijuana possession charges against Terry Parker, who said he needed the drug to treat epilepsy symptoms. The federal government has appealed that decision. The federal health department has not said whether it has completed its clinical tests, but says it plans to make an announcement next month. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea