cannabisnews.com: No Relief from Draconian Pot Laws No Relief from Draconian Pot Laws Posted by FoM on October 26, 2001 at 07:36:30 PT By Thane Burnett Source: Toronto Sun Marc Paquette slept for hours yesterday afternoon. Sometimes he dreams he is well. But not yesterday. It was more than the constant effects of hepatitis C, which has drained his sick and dying body. It was the mere half-hour spent before a federal court in Ottawa asking -- pleading -- his country for something that is already rightfully his. Relief -- in this case, 2.5 kilos of it. The court rejected a petition put forward by Paquette, along with a suburban Ottawa man fighting death from AIDS, to have OPP drug enforcement officers hand over medical marijuana seized from Diane Bruce's Colborne-area farm a week ago today. Indoors, and outside in a 10-metre-square garden protected by a wire fence, security cameras, floodlights and dogs, Bruce was cultivating the crop for Paquette, the second man listed on the federal court application, and dozens of other Canadians granted federal permits to use pot for medical reasons. While available, Ottawa has yet to issue a single licence for a designated grower on behalf of an exemptee. 'Sick and Dying' "These are sick and dying people. I just can't turn my back on them," Bruce told me during an appearance in the Cobourg courthouse earlier this week. In fact, her words used in my Toronto Sun column on Tuesday were included in yesterday's federal proceedings -- ironically, by the federal justice department as background in the case. Bruce's drugs don't end up on the streets. The exemptees rent space and their skills. They came to her farm, dubbed Lady Dyz, rather than buying the drug from organized crime, fellowship centres or growing it themselves -- risking home invasions for the effort. "I'm tired of dealing with criminals ... and I'm afraid for my safety to try to grow it myself in my own home," Paquette explained. "Diane was doing it for us. Police knew that." They all have the legal right to use marijuana to dull their constant pain, to let them sleep easier or to help food stay down. But that is not at issue in this pathetic story of the rights of the weakest among us. It's how we've given them licences for relief, but only barriers to possess it. Whether Bruce could tend the medical pot is in debate. The chronically ill mother of two remains in jail after her bail hearing Wednesday was put over once again. "Health Canada removes the tastes of living ... for us it's a constant fight to get what is ours," explained Paquette, 46, who lives east of Ottawa. Since becoming a marijuana exemptee in March, 2000, he has become a thorn in the side of Health Canada, bringing them to court three times to get improved access to the drug. As for many of the exemptees who fight ignorance and, in some cases, their own doctors, it's been a constant battle. "Health Canada said back then, after two months I would have a safe and secure source of marijuana. "Two years later, it still hasn't happened," Paquette said. The federal justice found yesterday the court had no jurisdiction in the case of the pot seized from Bruce, and suggested Paquette could petition embattled Federal Health Minister Allan Rock directly, or, more likely, take the case to a provincial court. Rightful Owners A week after the OPP seized the 18 kilos of marijuana, with a street value of more than $80,000, its rightful owners, including Paquette, are no closer to getting it back. What is the difference between pot and a subscription for a potent painkiller? Both are legal for these people, but only one they have to look to criminals to get. At this point, I throw myself on my sword and admit a mistake. I mentioned in Tuesday's column an underground commercial pot farm in Manitoba wasn't expected to produce drugs for exemptees until 2003. In fact, a Health Canada spokesman said yesterday it should ship out drugs early next year. However, they don't know how exemptees will get their allotments. Paquette -- tired from the disease, the effort of another failed court plea and a restless afternoon sleep -- wasn't encouraged by that news. "I've heard the promises before," he said. Sick and very tired of a shambles of a process, he's now almost out of his daily dose of legal pot. By the end of the month, he'll go back to the streets to get some more -- rather than count on his government to help him find the relief he's entitled to. It's no wonder he couldn't sleep very well yesterday afternoon. Note: Even the ill with a legal right to it find themselves tied up in court.Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)Author: Thane BurnettPublished: Friday, October 26, 2001Copyright: 2001 Canoe Limited Partnership.Contact: editor sunpub.comWebsite: http://www.fyitoronto.com/torsun.shtmlRelated Articles & Web Site:FTE's Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmHandcuffed by Pot Lawhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11148.shtmlActing High Above The Law http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10558.shtmlCannabisNews Articles - Canadahttp://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=canada Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Post Comment