Pubdate: Wed, 21 Oct 2015
Source: Metro (Ottawa, CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 Metro
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/Ottawa
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4032
Author: Lucy Scholey
Page: 7

CANNABIS USERS SAY RELIEF IS IN SIGHT

Laurie MacEachern is one of tens of thousands of the country's
medicinal cannabis users - and millions of recreational tokers -
rejoicing over the Liberal majority election win on Monday.

With Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau's plan to regulate
marijuana, MacEachern said she's looking forward to growing her own
medicine.

"We who need cannabis as medicine have been fighting for our lives,
against our own government, for our right to live," Maceachern,
director of the Medicinal Cannabis Patients' Alliance of Canada Inc.,
told Metro over Facebook chat. "I am relieved that the battle seems to
be over."

MacEachern, a Cornwall, Ont., grandmother, relies on cannabis to treat
fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, idiopathic neuropathy and a
spinal injury. If she can grow her own medicine, it will cost about
$500 a year, as opposed to the roughly $50,000 a year through Health
Canada's current program.

Recreational tokers should pay a tax, but medicinal cannabis users
should be exempt, she said.

Belleville, Ont., resident and medicinal cannabis activist Nate
Oxford, who prefers to use a different last name to protect his
identity, is also pleased with the election results. He uses cannabis
to treat fibromyalgia, a spinal injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.

"We give people licences to drive vehicles, which can turn into very
dangerous objects," he said. "This is, on a scale of dangerous things,
very mild."

There are fewer than 40,000 Canadian medical marijuana patients, but
the University of Ottawa estimates there are some 2.3 million
recreational pot users.

- - With files from the Toronto Star
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt