Pubdate: Tue, 07 Jan 2014
Source: Metro (Halifax, CN NS)
Copyright: 2014 Metro Canada
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/Halifax
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4727
Author: Ruth Davenport

'YOU MADE US FEEL LIKE CRIMINALS,' POT USER SAYS

Dartmouth: Man Claims Property Managers Have Threatened Eviction, 
Called Police, Child Welfare, Over Medical Marijuana Use

A medical marijuana user living in Dartmouth says his schooling and 
family life has been destroyed by harassment over his medical marijuana use.

"It feels like I'm in prison. It feels like I'm sitting in jail right 
now. My family's gone, and it feels like I'm being monitored," said 
John Quinn Monday.

Quinn has filed a complaint with the Nova Scotia Human Rights 
Commission over alleged discrimination by the superintendent and 
property manager of his Albro Lake Road apartment.

He disclosed his licence to grow and use medical marijuana when he 
signed a lease in June. Although the building super didn't raise any 
concerns then, Quinn said he's been subjected ever since to repeated 
police calls, accusations that he's selling his pot, and 
investigations by Child Welfare Services.

He was even ordered to leave after an inspection by the property 
manager in November, though the eviction order was rescinded.

"The only thing that he could do was ask for a copy of my (permit,) 
because (marijuana) could potentially harm other tenants," said 
Quinn. "What about an oxygen tank? That could explode. What's the 
difference, in reality?"

The former welder said the marijuana manages his joint pain 
effectively without affecting his mental state or causing addiction. 
He grows the plants in a separate unit from the apartment where he 
lives with his family, and has installed charcoal filters to manage any odours.

Quinn said he's had to drop out of his upgrade courses because of 
stress caused by the alleged harassment, and has sent his partner and 
children to live in Ontario to prevent any further action by Child 
Welfare Services.

After serving MetCap Living Management with notice of the Human 
Rights complaint, Quinn said the alleged harassment has stopped - but 
he still doesn't feel safe.

"You've put my family in danger, you've put me in danger, you've 
ruined our Christmas, you made us feel like criminals," he said. "I 
want a public apology, but I don't know that it's enough."

Quinn said medical marijuana is a legitimate prescription in Canada, 
and it's unreasonable for anyone to persecute a user - or treat them 
any differently - because of it.

"I know what it's done for me, it's changed my life," he said. "But 
.. the stigma around it is so negative and so wrong. It's so false. 
It needs to be changed."

Neither the superintendent or property manager of Quinn's building 
returned calls for comment.

[sidebar]

Facts and figures about medical marijuana:

* More than 37,000 Canadians are currently licensed for possession.

* Users currently must be licensed through Health Canada.

* Rule changes coming April 1 mean users cannot grow their own 
medical marijuana, but must purchase it from a government approved supplier.

* Under the same rule changes, users can be approved by a doctor's 
prescription, and won't need a licence from Health Canada.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom