(ED. note: This could be the case that breaks
the Canadian ban on medical marijuana. In effect, the suit is being funded by the
government, and the politicians would love to duck the issue by letting the courts decide
it.) See
AIDS Patient Mortal
Threat to Canada’s Cannabis Laws. Doctor Says "I just find the marijuana laws
ludicrous."
and
Canadian
AIDS Patient Sues for Right to Use Marijuana to Ease Pain, Restore Appetite Wants
Government to Supply Him
and
Canada: 'We'll Approve Marijuana
Prescriptions." 'No different than Aspirin,' Health official says.
From theToronto Sun
editor@sunpub.com
http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoSun/
August 6, 1998
By Sam Pazanno, Sun Media Newspapers
PATIENT FIGHTS FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA
TORONTO—A Toronto AIDS patient and activist fought in court yesterday for his
right to use marijuana for medicinal purposes.
James Wakeford, 53, also asked Mr. Justice Harry LaForme to order
Ottawa to establish a program to supply uncontaminated marijuana for AIDS patients.
Wakeford’s lawyer, Alan Young, argued that marijuana "lifts the spirits and
for a terminal patient, that isn’t a bad thing."
"I’m not a pothead. I only smoke before dinner," Young quoted Wakeford
as saying.
Wakeford, creator of Casey House Foundation, was diagnosed as HIV positive in 1989 and
has had AIDS since 1993.
He smoked marijuana to combat the "unbearable nausea"
and weight and appetite loss triggered by anti-AIDS medication, said Young.
"The greatest danger to Mr. Wakeford (last month) was starvation," Young
quoted Wakeford’s doctor, John Goodhew, as saying.
Wakeford credited his increased appetite and weight gain to pot
smoking.
Many prominent Canadians and Americans praised marijuana for reducing nausea caused by
cancer treatments.
The list of endorsers included Toronto lawyer Tim Danson (who has quit smoking since
beating cancer in 1981), best-selling author Peter McWilliams and Harvard geology
professor Stephen J. Gould.
See World Famous
Harvard Scientist Stephen Jay Gould Testifies For Medical Marijuana
"The politicians just wish I’d die and go away," Wakeford said in an
interview.
"I’m doing this for AIDS patients who live on fixed
incomes and cannot afford the relief."
Government lawyer Chris Amerasinghe argued that Wakeford’s application should be
dismissed since he stopped taking AIDS medications in May.
"His evidence is that he feels wonderful (and) no longer suffers nausea,"
said Amerasinghe.
(Ed. note: The reason that he is not currently nauseous is that he
has temporarily stopped taking the AIDS medications for medical reasons.)
The hearing continues today.
Copyright © 1998 The London Free Press
Supported