Toronto Star, February 6, 1998 http://www.thestar.com/back_issues/ED19980206/news/980206NEW07b_NA-GRASS6.html

By Joel Ruimy,
Queen's Park Bureau Chief

Letters to the editor: LetterToEd@thestar.com

A Toronto man living with AIDS is taking the federal government to court demanding the legal right to use marijuana as medicine - and demanding that Ottawa supply him with the drug.

``I'm filing a suit to obtain medical marijuana, not only for myself, but for all Canadians who need it,'' Jim Wakeford told a news conference yesterday.

``I'm sick and I'd like to have some relief while I'm still alive. I'd like legal relief,'' said the emaciated 53-year-old.

Wakeford was diagnosed with AIDS in 1989 and has been on disability since 1993. He is a former executive director of an AIDS hostel.

He takes 40 pills a day but the medicine has a long list of painful side effects, including nausea, diarrhea, stomach upset and insomnia.

Wakeford smokes two marijuana cigarettes a day to deal with the pain and to help restore his appetite. But he has had to buy the drug in dangerous street deals. (Ed. note: The reporter makes this point. Good journalism.)

``I want legal, safe and affordable medical marijuana,'' he said. ``I should not have to deal with the black market.''

`I'm sick and I'd like to have some relief while I'm still alive. I'd like legal relief'

Parker, an epileptic, said the Charter of Rights and Freedoms allows him to smoke marijuana to ease his symptoms and an Ontario Court, provincial division judge agreed.

Young predicted a ``cakewalk in court'' and added he will press to have the federal government supply the cannabis to Wakeford in order to ensure quality and affordability.

``It's callous, cruel and insensitive to deny this man access,'' the lawyer said.