cannabisnews.com: Court Reserves Medicinal Marijuana Decision





Court Reserves Medicinal Marijuana Decision
Posted by CN Staff on September 04, 2003 at 14:41:53 PT
By Dave Rogers, The Ottawa Citizen
Source: Ottawa Citizen 
The Federal Court of Canada has reserved its decision on whether to allow a Hawkesbury hepatitis C patient to grow 50 marijuana plants he says he needs to control nausea, pain and muscle spasms.Marc Paquette, 47, argued that Health Canada's medicinal marijuana regulations prevent him from getting the drugs he needs. He said the 25 plants he is allowed to cultivate take two months to grow and provide only one month of pain relief.
When Mr. Paquette runs short of marijuana, he says he must buy the drug on the street or from the federal government.Alain Préfontaine, the lawyer representing the Attorney General of Canada, argued that the appeal against a Health Canada decision allowing him to grow seven plants was moot because the department already allows him go cultivate 25 plants."The court challenge was related to quantity of marijuana," he said. "The trial judge found that he was receiving what his doctor thought he should receive."He was granted an exemption to possess seven plants and this was increased three months later to 11 plants. Later, the exemption was further increased to 25 plants. That increase makes the challenge of the exemption for seven plants even more moot."Mr. Paquette caught hepatitis C from a blood transfusion he received during a 1995 gall bladder operation. He worked 21 years at Le Carillon, his father's newspaper in Hawkesbury, but quit his job as circulation supervisor because of constant pain.His liver condition prevents him from taking pain relievers, so he smokes five grams of marijuana a day to control his symptoms. He asked the court for a permanent exemption that would allow him to grow as much marijuana as he needs so he would not be required to apply to the government periodically for new growing permits."Permanent exemptions are needed for permanently ill people," said Mr. Paquette.He said Health Canada has been exerting horrific stress on 584 Canadians who must renew their medical marijuana exemptions all the time."Since November 2001, the Ontario Medical Association has advised doctors not to sign orders for medical marijuana any more. I am up to my 11th exemption since March 24, 2000 and I want the stress to end."Mr. Paquette said specialists won't sign prescriptions for medical marijuana because there hasn't been enough research on the safety of the drug. He said 15 of 94 Canadians who were denied medical marijuana permits died without anything to ease their pain."My doctor refuses to sign a permit for more than five grams of marijuana a day even though I need seven grams," he said. "I have grown six different strains of marijuana because each strain is like a different medication. Some are good against depression and others are effective for pain. I am permitted to grow less than half of what I need."Mr. Paquette said he spends $1,200 to $1,400 a month for marijuana on the street on a $1,600-a-month disability pension. These expenses force him to rely on his family for most of his food and shelter, he said.Note: Hawkesbury man argued regulations prevent him from growing enough plants.Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)Author: Dave Rogers, The Ottawa Citizen Published: Thursday, September 4, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Ottawa CitizenContact: letters thecitizen.canwest.comWebsite: http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmJust a Pipe Dream http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17219.shtmlNo Relief from Draconian Pot Lawshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11192.shtml
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