(Marijuananews note: The overwhelming majority
of the Canadian people are horrified by this sort of thing, but their politicians follow
the DEAland party line.) See
Quebec Party Restates
Its Support For Medical Marijuana; Parliament May Consider Question
February 23, 1999
From The Halifax Herald
letters@herald.ns.ca
http://www.herald.ns.ca/
By Steve Maich / Truro Bureau
POT SMOKER TO DISREGARD SENTENCE
Shubenacadie - A terminally ill cancer patient from Hants County
says he’ll keep on smoking marijuana to ease the pain of his condition despite a
conviction Monday on drug charges.
Mark Crossley, 38, of Noel, pleaded guilty in Shubenacadie provincial court to growing
marijuana for personal use. He was handed a four-month sentence to be served at home,
followed by 18 months of probation.
The Crown dropped an additional charge of drug possession for the purpose of
trafficking in exchange for Mr. Crossley’s guilty plea on the cultivation charge.
In 1997, Mr. Crossley was diagnosed with an inoperable brain
tumour. The former steel fabricator, who is married with three children, has been unable
to work for nearly two years. The tumour has caused him to suffer debilitating seizures,
headaches and mood swings, said his lawyer, Brian English.
Under the conditions of his sentence, Mr. Crossley must not cultivate or possess
marijuana, but he says he’ll continue to use the drug as long as it provides relief
from his pain and anxiety.
"It’s the only thing that controls the headaches, and as long as my tumour
stays the same size, I’m going to keep smoking," Mr. Crossley said outside the
courtroom.
"Depending on how my head feels, I smoke three to eight joints a day, and I wish I
could have one right now."
Several high-profile cases across Canada have sought to overturn Canada’s current
drug laws on the basis that they contravene the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
None has been successful, but the Medicinal Marijuana Club, based in Ontario, Alberta and
British Columbia, continues to disregard drug laws and distribute marijuana to seriously
ill patients.
See
Operator of One of
the 4 Medical Marijuana Clubs In Canada Gets Friendly Coverage In Hometown Paper
"The problem is that our current laws don’t recognize the medicinal use and
benefits of marijuana as a treatment for terminally ill patients," Mr. English said.
See
Operator of One of
the 4 Medical Marijuana Clubs In Canada Gets Friendly Coverage In Hometown Paper
and
University Of
Toronto Student Paper Reports Heroin Acceptable For AIDS Patients, But Marijuana Is Not
and
Canadian Court
Declines To Rule On Right To Medical Marijuana
and
Canadian MS
Patient Medical Marijuana Grower Fined $1,000
and
World Famous
Harvard Scientist Stephen Jay Gould Testifies For Medical Marijuana
"Under the circumstances, this sentence seems reasonable, but ... the medical
community needs to get involved and ask for amendments to the laws to provide for the use
of marijuana in cases like these."
See
Canadian Medical
Association Passes Resolution Urging Possession Of Marijuana
Not Be Punishable By A Jail Term
and
Medical Marijuana
Got Man Out Of Wheelchair;
"Meanwhile, the MS Society of Canada keeps a cautious distance..."
Mr. Crossley is also required to perform 120 hours of community service as part of his
sentence. Mr. English argued that his client may be too ill to meet that obligation, but
Judge John MacDougall said there are many non-strenuous activities Mr. Crossley could
perform.
"Perhaps he could help an elderly person cultivate a garden, since he seems to
have a green thumb," Judge MacDougall said.
But Mr. Crossley wasn’t in a joking mood after court. As he was
leaving the courtroom, he turned and shouted angrily in the direction of Judge MacDougall
and prosecutor Linda Hupman.
"None of you understand," he yelled. "You can’t make decisions
about my health. I’m the one that’s sick, not you."
Supported