Pubdate: Fri, 01 Mar 2002 Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON) Copyright: 2002 The Ottawa Citizen Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326 Author: Rick Reimer MEDICAL MARIJUANA EXEMPTIONS DON'T WORK Upon being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November 1998, I submitted one of Canada's first applications for a medical marijuana exemption. About 300 exemptions have been issued by Health Canada on an ad hoc basis. But, once again, I am in danger of becoming a criminal in the eyes of the law. In response to a deadline set by the Ontario Court of Appeal, the government enacted a new set of regulations and procedures effective July 31, 2001. While a number of medicinal users offered to help the government in crafting the new rules, our help was largely ignored. Not surprisingly, the result is a hypocritical and untenable system that is an insult to Canadians generally, and to medicinal marijuana users in particular. The biggest roadblock we face is that each application for a permit must be signed by a doctor who must, among other things, agree that the "benefits fro m the applicant's recommended use of marijuana outweigh any risks associated with that use." Doctors, warned that they might be held personally liable in the event of a lawsuit, have told the government they won't sign. As a result, I am likely to lose my exemption by late May: No doctor will sign my application under current conditions. My disease has not improved, nor will it. Yet soon my marijuana use will again be a crime. Instead of conferring a medicinal benefit at a cost that I am fully prepared to bear on my own, it will again become a "social problem" at which all Canadians will vainly throw money. Perhaps the current wave of public support will finally convince the Canadian government that prohibition of marijuana is not only wrong, but also impossible. The clear solution is to decriminalize cannabis generally, not just for medicinal use. Marijuana is, after all, far less dangerous than many intoxicants that have no medicinal benefits and are permitted without question. Rick Reimer, Barry's Bay - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens