cannabisnews.com: Federal Inmate Fights To Smoke Medicinal Pot





Federal Inmate Fights To Smoke Medicinal Pot
Posted by CN Staff on March 09, 2003 at 20:33:41 PT
By The CTV News Staff
Source: CTV
A Maritime man in federal prison says he needs marijuana to ease the pain that keeps him from eating. CTV's John Vennavally-Rao reports Michael Patriquen can't get his hands on what he wants to roll.Patriquen's neck pain stems from a car accident and he has lost 37 pounds since he was jailed last fall. The father of two holds a federal license to use pot for medicinal purposes and he's taking his case to court.
"When I'm in pain, which is most of the time...I'm nauseous...my stomach is upset," Patriquen said.The pot activist, who founded the Nova Scotia Marijuana party, is serving a six-year prison sentence for conspiring to traffic the drug in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.Vennavally-Rao reports two specialists have agreed marijuana would help his situation and Health Canada gave him the okay to legally smoke the drug. But prison officials say they no of no other inmate with a pot permit.Patriquen has at least one high level politician on his side.Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, who supports making marijuana legal, says Patriquen's rights are being trampled on. He said Patriquen is entitled to get it "no matter where he is in Canada."Canada's Solicitor General Wayne Easter disagrees. He is dead set against inmates toking up -- even if they are very sick. "We don't want to go down that route...if you are in prison you're not there to smoke marijuana," he said.The powerful marijuana ingredient THC can be taken in pill form. But Patriquen says the pills don't work and he plans to take his court to federal court."If they don't want to do it voluntarily we'll do it in court. But I'm not going to die waiting for it," Patriquen said.He argues that inmates are given morphine, methadone and other drugs -- so why not marijuana?Source: CTV (Canada)Published: March 9, 2003Copyright: 2003 Bell Globemedia Interactive Inc. Website: http://www.ctv.ca/Contact: newsonline ctv.ca Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmSenate Report on Cannabis: Get Whole Story http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14319.shtmlJudge Rules Against Man Who Wants Pot in Prisonhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14068.shtmlN.S. Man Argues To Receive Marijuana in Jailhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14007.shtml
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on March 10, 2003 at 13:20:05 PT
News Brief from The CBC
Catch-22 for B.C. AIDS PatientMarch 10, 2003
 CBC.ca
 
KELOWNA, B.C. - A Kelowna man dying of AIDS and hepatitis C says he can't get the medical marijuana he needs, despite having a prescription. Richard Babcock says marijuana eases his nausea, allowing him to eat. But Babcock can't afford his supply. He's on social assistance and B.C.'s Pharmacare program won't cover his prescription for medical pot. INDEPTH: Medical Marijuana: 
http://cbc.ca/news/indepth/background/medical_marijuana.htmlBabcock is one of many AIDS patients caught in cross-jurisdictional wrangling between the federal and B.C. governments. The federal government has put its production of medical marijuana on hold. B.C.'s Ministry of Health says that means there are no legal producers of pot in Canada, and that any money spent on it would involve the province in illegal drug trafficking. So for now, Babcock buys as much marijuana as he can afford from the local Compassion Club. But too often, he says, he has to choose between buying medicine or food. 
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Comment #3 posted by afterburner on March 09, 2003 at 21:19:40 PT:
Organized Resistance to Canadian MMJ Building 
Does God approve of getting high? http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15671.shtml#2
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Comment #2 posted by afterburner on March 09, 2003 at 20:58:10 PT:
This "Humane" Treatment of Canadian MMJ Inmat
Patriquen ... argues that inmates are given morphine, methadone and other drugs -- so why not marijuana?What chance does Steven Kubby have in DEAland? Canadian Immigration officials, take note! Only in Canada, you say? Pity. The US is a democracy: there is no such thing as a US polical refugee, you say. Would you bet Steven Kubby's life on that?Photo for Steve Kubby http://boards.marihemp.com/boards/message.shtml?2x3276x1© Harbinger Mills Publications, Toronto, Ontario, Canada"Jah Jah a goin' weed them out.""Who Jah bless, let no one put asunder."All Reggae http://channels.netscape.com/ns/music/radio/stationinfo.jsp?g=&s=3811Reggae Roots http://channels.netscape.com/ns/music/radio/stationinfo.jsp?g=&s=3677ego destruction or ego transcendence, that is the question.
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on March 09, 2003 at 20:34:45 PT
CTV Video
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1047264383598_15/?hub=Canada
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