cannabisnews.com: Drawn-Out Battle Exhausts Hep C Victim










  Drawn-Out Battle Exhausts Hep C Victim

Posted by FoM on May 20, 2000 at 08:14:29 PT
By Kathleen Harris, Ottawa Sun 
Source: Ottawa Sun 

Canada's Justice department has made a decision on whether it will prosecute a hepatitis C victim who uses marijuana as medicine. But officials won't divulge the ruling on the drug-related charges against Robert Brown until lawyers involved in the case have been formally notified. 
"I won't talk about his case specifically, but I can tell you generally, in cases where an individual has obtained an exemption from Health Canada for medicinal purposes, that is a fact that militates in favour of staying the prosecution if the offence before the court was related to their medical condition," said Croft Michaelson, director of the strategic prosecution policy section at Justice Canada. There have been only a handful of cases in which Canadians have had drug-related charges against them stayed after receiving an exemption from prosecution. Brown, who lives in a farmhouse near Beachburg, uses marijuana to ease chronic nausea, throat spasms and reduced appetite. He received permission to use the controlled substance four months ago, after staging a one-man protest on the snow-covered grounds of Parliament Hill to mark the year-long wait since he had filed an application. At that time, the federal Crown attorney vowed to review the case against Brown and his wife, Linda, who were both charged in December 1998 with possession and cultivation of marijuana. Brown would like to proceed with his trial, which is scheduled for June 19, to advance the cause -- but he's growing fatigued from the disease and the legal battle. "I'm just tired," he said. "I'm not totally ready to shut up yet, but I need a rest." Brown, still bitter about being dragged through the court system this long, called the charges "a foolish misuse of funds and valuable court time." He is also upset his wife, who doesn't even use cannabis, has been treated like a criminal during the ordeal. If the charges are stayed, Brown wants back his growing equipment, lights and literature that were seized during the raid on his farmhouse. Published: May 20, 2000 Copyright © 2000, Canoe Limited Partnership. CannabisNews Articles On Canadian Issues:http://alltheweb.com/cgi-bin/search?type=all&query=cannabisnews+canada

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Comment #1 posted by Shirley on July 16, 2001 at 22:10:29 PT:

I hope your seeling ok
I was really happy that you are fighting to what helps you.I live in Toronto and i am really trying to feel better.A history of medical issues. I have to get more connected.I can't get treatment so i have to use other sourses.Good luck to everyone. Remember ShirleyP.S i will write tomorrow when i get up.looking forword to getting info feed back
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