cannabisnews.com: AIDS Patient Tired of Going to the Streets for Pot





AIDS Patient Tired of Going to the Streets for Pot
Posted by FoM on April 12, 2000 at 12:38:56 PT
Canadian Press
Source: Excite Canada
The first Canadian awarded an exemption by Ottawa to smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes was in court today seeking a government supply of the illicit drug. Jim Wakeford, who has full-blown AIDS, has unsuccessfully tried to cultivate pot. Now, he is seeking a court order that will force Ottawa to supply marijuana to him for medicinal purposes. 
Alternatively, his lawyer Alan Young has asked the court to grant immunity to Wakeford's caregivers who put themselves in legal jeopardy when supplying Wakeford with pot or helping him grow the plants. "To think of someone with a terminal illness having to roam the streets looking for a dealer is really not something I think Canadians will accept or tolerate," Young told Ontario Superior Court today. Since a groundbreaking ruling in 1999, when Wakeford won the right to possess, cultivate and use marijuana for the purposes of treating his AIDS-related symptoms, about 35 Canadians have received similar exemptions from Ottawa. While today's court challenge is specific to Wakeford, court heard today it will have an impact on each of the Canadians who have since been given the right to use marijuana for medicinal purposes. "I live alone with a cat," Wakeford said in an interview. "Unlike Blanche DuBois, I can't rely on the kindness of strangers. I depend on the health care system." Wakeford says that two of his caregivers have already been charged by police for supplying him with pot. He has tried to cultivate plants himself, but with little success. "He needs the government to set up the infrastructure and then he'd be happy to absorb whatever costs are associated with this enterprise," said Young. Published: April 12, 2000Toronto (CP)Copyright © 2000 Excite Canada Inc. Related Articles & Web Site:Jim Wakeford Medical Marijuana Websitehttp://www.interlog.com/~wakeford/Marijuana-Smoker Going To Court for Safe Supply http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4405.shtmlMarijuana's Truth and Consequences http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3493.shtmlRock Approves Pot Use for 14 More http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3153.shtml 
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on April 12, 2000 at 18:37:01 PT
Related Article
Canadian Exempt From Pot Laws Due To Illness Wants Government To Be His Supplier Calgary Heraldhttp://www.calgaryherald.com/Published: April 12, 2000By Paula ArabTORONTO (CP) - The first Canadian awarded an exemption by Ottawa to smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes was in court Wednesday seeking a government supply of the illicit drug. Jim Wakeford, who has full-blown AIDS, has unsuccessfully tried to cultivate pot. Now, he is seeking a court order that will force Ottawa to supply marijuana to him as a medicine. While court heard a proposed federal research project could eventually meet that need, Wakeford's lawyer said that won't happen fast enough for his client. "Jim doesn't need research, he's a dying man," said Louis Sokolov. Wakeford's lawyer told court the marijuana his client wants is legally available at the National Institute of Drug Abuse in the U.S. and a private pharmaceutical company in the U.K. Lawyer Alan Young is asking the court to also grant immunity to caregivers who put themselves in legal jeopardy when supplying Wakeford with the drug or helping him to grow marijuana plants. "To think of someone with a terminal illness having to roam the streets looking for a dealer is really not something I think Canadians will accept or tolerate," Young told Ontario Superior Court. Since a groundbreaking ruling in 1999, when Wakeford won the right to possess, cultivate and use marijuana for the purposes of treating his AIDS-related symptoms, about 35 Canadians have received similar exemptions from Ottawa. "I live alone with a cat," Wakeford said Wednesday in an interview. "Unlike Blanche DuBois, I can't rely on the kindness of strangers. I depend on the health care system." While Wednesday's court challenge is specific to Wakeford, court heard it will have an impact on each of the Canadians who have since been given the right to use marijuana for medicinal purposes. One of those Canadians, was in court listening to the arguments Wednesday, quietly rolling a joint on his lap while the sweet smell of the dried weed wafted through the courtroom. The 45-year-old Oshawa, Ont. man who says he's dying from liver failure due to hepatitis C later smoked the joint outside court. "I'm here to fight for the right to have the medicine, to have the prescription (federal health minister) Allan Rock wrote me. I want it filled," he said. "What kind of medicine are you buying on the streets? It may not harm a recreational user but it could harm or kill someone like me," he added. Wakeford says that two of his caregivers have already been charged by police for supplying him with pot. He has tried to cultivate plants himself, but with little success. "He needs the government to set up the infrastructure and then he'd be happy to absorb whatever costs are associated with this enterprise," said Young. The Crown initially argued to that Wakeford's application should be dismissed, saying his Charter rights had not been breached. It also argued that the case should be heard in federal court. But Judge Blenus Wright disagreed. "This goes to the very core of somebody living or dying," said Wright. "It seems to be just a very simple thing for the government to do, to supply them with something that is beneficial for them." © The Canadian Press, 2000
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