Pubdate: Wed, 19 Dec 2001
Source: Independent, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2001 Conolly Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.eastnorthumberland.com/thisweek.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1596
Author: Tom Philp
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada)

MARIJUANA GROWER TAKES CONCERNS TO MACKLIN

Dianne Bruce says she has been "bounced" from one local office to 
another in her efforts to have bail conditions amended, so she is 
taking her concerns to Northumberland MP Paul Macklin this week.

The Cramahe Township woman has now received the exemption that should 
allow her to consume marijuana for medical purposes, but her crop of 
the herb remains seized, and she is legally prohibited from 
travelling outside of Northumberland -- even to see her family doctor.

Bruce was featured in the October 10 edition of The Independent in an 
article about marijuana grown and consumed for medical purposes. 
Police drug squad officers raided her Dundonald home October 19, 
seizing marijuana grown for people approved to possess it under 
Section 56 of the federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and 
personal items including grow lights and computer equipment.

Michelle Hughey, Bruce's daughter from a previous marriage, was 
arrested during the raid along with her mother. Although Michelle was 
released, with restrictions, on her own recognizance, Bruce spent 
nine days in an overcrowded Whitby jail before being released on bail 
October 29.

Bruce suffers from several illnesses including fibromyalgia, 
irritable bowel syndrome and severe migraine headaches. At the time 
of her arrest, she was growing marijuana for more than 40 "exemptees" 
who had contracted with her to supply medicine to them.

Police reported seizing about 40 pounds of marijuana when they raided 
the Bruce residence in October.

Although Bruce had not received her Section 56 exemption prior to the 
police raid on her home, she told officers Health Canada had assured 
her it was being processed.

Ironically, her official medical marijuana exemption arrived in the 
mail two weeks after Bruce's release from jail.

"(Police) knew Health Canada was approving my exemption, just like 
they knew marijuana was growing here months before they busted us," 
Bruce said in a recent telephone interview.

Bruce said police are the least of her concerns at this time. 
Michelle has chronic asthma and also suffers from migraines.

Dr. Kerlow, the family's physician, has offices at Brimley Road and 
Sheppard Avenue in Toronto. But bail conditions for both Bruce and 
Hughey prohibit them from leaving Northumberland County.

"I'm paranoid about leaving the area, but Michelle has been very sick 
for weeks," Bruce said. "We couldn't get a local doctor."

Bruce said she contacted the OPP about having bail conditions 
changed, and they referred her to Justice of the Peace Patricia 
McHenry in Cobourg.

"The justice told me the OPP had misled me, and that I had to see the 
Crown Attorney to get (conditions) changed," she said. "So we went to 
the crown's office, and they said I had to see a different Crown 
Attorney."

Bruce ended up at the offices of Doug Mann, a Cobourg lawyer who is 
acting as Federal Crown Attorney in the Bruce case. The information 
Mann provided did not lessen her paranoia, she said.

"Mr. Mann said he would not 'rat us out' if we went to Toronto to our 
doctor, but if police stopped us we would be thrown in jail," Bruce 
said.

A reporter from The Independent contacted Mann by telephone, but he 
said he could not discuss aspects of Bruce's case, or the case 
against Michelle.

"How are we supposed to live like this?" Bruce asked, obviously 
overcome with emotion. "All I was doing was helping people, and 
Michelle got arrested just because she was in her own home when the 
cops came."

Ms. Bruce said she is "sick and tired of the runaround," and having 
to "live like hermits" at the Dundonald residence. Bail conditions 
prohibit Bruce from making contact with her partner, Jerry Kresjola, 
or any of the exemptees for whom she was tending the marijuana garden.

"I'm so incredibly lonely because I can't talk to my friends," she said.

On December 19 Bruce will meet with MP Macklin at his Cobourg office. 
Marijuana activist Steven Bacon will accompany her, and they intend 
to point out "how ridiculous this situation is," she said.

"My friends are sick and dying, and legally entitled to have their 
medicine," she said. "I have an exemption according to Health Canada, 
but no way to use it."

"I want to tell Mr. Macklin that despite (Health Minister) Rock's 
good intentions, I look at my exemption every day and it's a joke," 
Ms. Bruce said.

"I'm going to tell him this is a terrible way for authorities to 
treat somebody who was just fulfilling the immediate needs of sick 
people," she said.
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