Pubdate: Fri, 15 Mar 2013
Source: Kamloops Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Kamloops Daily News
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/679
Page: 4

ACCUSED SAYS HE NEEDS DOC FOR WEED

A 30-year-old man arrested by RCMP with 33 grams of marijuana in his
car can't find a Kamloops physician to prescribe it, his lawyer said
Thursday.

Christopher Hermanson pleaded guilty in provincial court to possession
of a controlled substance. Crown prosecutor Anthony Varesi said
Hermanson was pulled over Sept. 15, 2012, at an RCMP road check.

An officer noticed a smell of green marijuana and searched Hermanson's
vehicle. The marijuana seized is worth an estimated $215.

Jeremy Jensen said his client, who has a university education, suffers
from anxiety and sleep apnea. He uses contraband marijuana to treat
those problems.

Hermanson has not been able to find a family physician in Kamloops who
will prescribe him with medical marijuana.

"Physicians aren't prescribing it. They're of the opinion medical
marijuana is not to be used."

Jensen said there is at least one physician on Vancouver Island who
will diagnose and prescribe medical marijuana via Skype - something
Hermanson will seek out.

"It seems the law is a little behind where the world is with medical
marijuana," Jensen said.

Judge Stella Frame granted Hermanson an absolute discharge, along with
a $400 victim fine surcharge. He will receive no criminal record.
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MAP posted-by: Matt