Pubdate: Thu, 30 Jul 2015
Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Vancouver 24 hrs.
Contact: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/letters
Website: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837
Author: Michael Mui
Page: 3

B.C. MARIJUANA USERS CERTIFIED IN CLASS-ACTION SUIT

About 20,000 licensed marijuana users in B.C. are now part of a
class-action lawsuit certified this week by the Federal Court of
Canada after their names were printed on envelopes referencing medical
marijuana.

Their lawyers allege this was a significant breach of their
privacy.

Some people have even lost their jobs because of the disclosure, said
David Fraser, a privacy lawyer with McInnes Cooper.

In total, there's about 40,000 people affected and more than half
reside in B.C., he said.

The letters were sent out in November 2013 by Health Canada to inform
licensed users of changes to the program.

"It was right there, there turn address on the envelope said 'Health
Canada - medical marijuana program' and PO box whatever. I twas an
oversized envelope, it wouldn't even tuck into your bills - it would
stick out of your mailbox," Fraser said.

"So imagine a high school teacher in a small community who has a
health condition that would make them qualify. They know their post
master and the person delivering the mail ... any association between
that person and what some people would consider as illicit drugs,
immediately that's negative influence."

Another concern is how some, worried that others now know their homes
may contain marijuana or legal grow operations , have had to upgrade
home security at their own expense.

The case was certified for class action on Monday. Fraser expects it
will be another several years before the case proceeds to trial.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt