cannabisnews.com: AIDS Patient Denied Safe Marijuana





AIDS Patient Denied Safe Marijuana
Posted by FoM on January 18, 2002 at 07:38:51 PT
By Patti Edgar 
Source: Ottawa Citizen 
Ontario judges dismissed the appeal yesterday of an AIDS patient who argued for a safe supply of medical marijuana and exception for his caregiver from drug laws.Jim Wakeford was one of the first Canadians to be granted an exemption by Health Canada in 1999 from Canadian drug laws for medical reasons to soothe the severe nausea and spasms caused by his medication. Since then, he has led a fight in the courts for protection from drug laws for his caregivers and access to a safe and affordable supply of marijuana for medical purposes.
Wakeford's case was dismissed in the spring of 2000, with Justice Blenis Wright concluding that Wakeford wasn't having difficulty getting marijuana and the government was working at a reasonable pace to provide clinical trials of the drug.Wakeford appealed the ruling last March, but the three Ontario court of appeal judges reserved their decision. Yesterday, the judges dismissed Wakeford's appeal of Judge Wright's ruling, saying that the "legislative landscape" has changed and Wakeford should make a new application under regulations that came into force on July 30.Louis Sokolov, one of Wakeford's lawyers, said he was disappointed by the ruling. He hasn't had a chance to ask his client whether he wanted to make a new application. "Mr. Wakeford, or someone like him if he isn't strong enough to continue his fight, will have to start all over again," said Sokolov."Although there has been a number of defeats along the way, litigation has clearly been the main force in moving the government along. While there's been some progress, we hoped the court of appeal would further the progress, but it chose not to intervene."Note: Jim Wakeford was granted exemption by Health Canada in 1999 from Canadian drug laws.Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)Author: Patti Edgar Published: Friday, January 18, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Ottawa CitizenContact: letters thecitizen.southam.ca Website: http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/Related Articles & Web Site:FTE's Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmOne of Canada's Medical Exemption Gets Hassledhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11432.shtmlRebel With a Compelling Cause http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10463.shtmlMedicinal Pot User Awaits Ottawa's New Rules http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9272.shtml 
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Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on January 18, 2002 at 09:51:27 PT
And where are the people who MAKE these meds?
Jim Wakeford was one of the first Canadians to be granted an exemption by Health Canada in 1999 from Canadian drug laws for medical reasons to soothe the severe nausea and spasms caused by his medication.You'd think that the scientists who develop and make those harsh medications would take a more active role in helping people overcome the obstacles to their successful use...But that's life in the Blanche Dubois Universe.Always being dependent on the kindness of the federal government, it leaves you thinking a bit like Blanche. Half victim, half whore. What's a girl to do?
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