Pubdate: Tue, 07 Oct 2003 Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB) Copyright: 2003 Winnipeg Free Press Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502 Author: Gillian Livingston, Canadian Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada) COURT TO ISSUE RULING ON GOVERNMENT-SUPPLIED POT TORONTO -- Canadians who are allowed to use medicinal marijuana could be forced to buy their medicine from the black market if the Ontario Court of Appeal rules today that the federal government doesn't have to provide pot to critically ill people. Alison Myrden, one of the litigants in the case, said the issue of having a legal supply of marijuana is "critical" for her because the drug -- which she takes instead of more than 30 pills and morphine -- helps her deal with the pain of chronic progressive multiple sclerosis and other ailments. Myrden said she hasn't yet applied to receive the government-grown marijuana due to quality concerns. So far, the pot being grown in Flin Flon by a company on contract to the government hasn't had good reviews. In today's ruling, the Ontario court could force the government to continue supplying pot to medicinal users, while allowing it to uphold the laws prohibiting pot possession. The court could also rule the government doesn't have to provide a legal source of pot to medicinal users, and continue to prohibit possession of the drug. That would mean that people approved to use the drug would have to turn to an illegal source. Another possibility is the court ruling that the laws prohibiting marijuana possession are unconstitutional and hurt those who use pot for medical reasons. The appeal stems from a case in January in which Ontario Superior Court Justice Sidney Lederman ruled it was unfair for the federal government to allow people to use medicinal marijuana but put them in a position where they have to buy it from the black market because Ottawa doesn't provide legal access to cannabis. Lederman gave the government a July 9 deadline to either fix the regulations or supply the pot itself. As a result, the government instituted an interim policy where it supplies pot at set prices to approved users. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh