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Public Misinformed About Marijuana, Advocates Say
Pubdate: Mon, 29 Aug 2005
Source: North Bay Nugget (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 North Bay Nugget
Contact: http://www.nugget.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2226
Author: Jennifer Hamilton
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?143 (Hepatitis)
PUBLIC MISINFORMED ABOUT MARIJUANA, ADVOCATES SAY
FIELD -- Marijuana users and members of the Church of the Universe gathered
Saturday to support Rev. Michel Ethier and his effort to decriminalize pot,
at an undisclosed location near Field.
Ethier and his beliefs have been a subject of controversy for years. Many
within his community are trying to get him to leave, he says.
The Field resident has been charged several times over the last two years.
Two of those charges have resulted in acquittals. He was found guilty of
possession for the purpose of trafficking and breach of bail, but that
sentence is being appealed.
"There is definitely a conspiracy to get me out of what some people call
'hazard county,'" Ethier said, referring to a small neighbourhood between
Field and River Valley where he resides.
"Although I'm a target, I'm determined to stay."
Ethier has been a daily pot smoker since the age of 16 and estimates he
smokes about a quarter an ounce every day or six pounds a year for the last
25 years.
"The public is misinformed about cannabis," he said, as he made last-minute
preparations for his picnic, which about 20 people were expected to attend.
The picnic not only included hamburgers, hot dogs and corn, but joints were
also shared throughout the afternoon.
Margaret Harrington of Kemptville suffers from fibromyalgia and has been
given permission by the Canadian government to possess and grow marijuana.
"There is nothing on my body that doesn't hurt and smoking a joint makes it
easier to deal with the disease," she said, as she held a joint in each hand.
Harrington said she faces similar discrimination as a pot smoker in her
hometown.
She was the subject of media attention earlier this year when she was
arrested for cultivating marijuana. She received the licence to grow the
drug from the Canadian government four days later.
Paulette, who didn't want her last name used, said smoking pot has helped
her continue living despite the effects of hepatitis C and a recent liver
transplant.
The Field resident got the disease at the age of 16 from a blood
transfusion. In 2003, she needed a liver transplant and her 31-year-old son
gave her 65 per cent of his organ.
"Marijuana helps keep my pills down, stops the nausea and gets me to eat,"
she said.
"Basically it helps me to function every day."
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman