Pubdate: Sun, 01 Jun 2003
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476

POT COOKIES NEEDED IN PRISON: LAWYER

A lawyer for Michael Patriquen will appear in a Vancouver court tomorrow to 
seek an emergency injunction allowing his client to use marijuana in prison.

Patriquen, a Nova Scotia man in an institution in New Brunswick, has a 
Health Canada exemption allowing him to use marijuana to treat chronic 
pain. But Correction Services Canada has not allowed the 49-year-old pot 
activist access to what it considers a contraband drug since he began 
serving a six-year sentence for conspiracy to grow and distribute 4.5 
kilograms of marijuana. Vancouver lawyer John Conroy, a specialist in 
marijuana and penal law, will argue Mr. Patriquen's health is deteriorating 
so rapidly he needs immediate access.

Mrs. Stephen Patriquen said her husband has dropped from 202 pounds to 149 
pounds and has fallen into a "massive state of depression" while his pain 
goes untreated.

Conroy will give the judge three options: Health Canada supply the pot, it 
be obtained through the Vancouver Compassion Club, or Patriquen get some of 
the illicit marijuana that regularly circulates in prison without fear of 
punishment. Should he be allowed marijuana, Patriquen won't be puffing 
joints in front of other prisoners. "What we want is the cannabis to be put 
in baked goods," said Patriquen's wife.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens