N.B. MAN FACING DRUG CHARGES GIVEN PERMISSION TO GROW MARIJUANA AT HOME

SAINT JOHN, N.B. (CP) - Health Canada has given a New Brunswick man who's
facing a trial for drug charges permission to grow marijuana for medicinal
purposes. Greg Boyle said he received approval last week to grow 25 plants
at home and to carry up to 150 grams of marijuana on his person.

Boyle, who ran for the Confederation of Regions Party in the 1999
provincial election, applied to the federal government in January for
permission to grow marijuana to help reduce chronic back pain.

He said he's suffered constant pain since he injured his back at work in
1975. He also broke his neck in a car accident in 1991, and had two discs
removed in 1995.

"It's just been a living hell. You go to sleep with pain and you wake up
with pain," he said.

Boyle said marijuana has worked better than any of the 100 other
painkillers he has tried - and without any of the negative side effects.

Boyle said his permit allowed him to start growing the drug on Oct. 5.

But he says he intends to wait until his drug charges have been dealt with
before he starts growing the marijuana.

Boyle and Elizabeth Ann Ferguson, 42, pleaded not guilty last fall to
charges of producing marijuana and possessing marijuana for the purpose of
trafficking. Boyle was also charged with improper storage of a firearm.

The charges arose after a drug bust by the police at a Quispamsis, N.B.,
residence about a year ago. Officers found $64,000 worth of marijuana.
Police also confiscated money and equipment for growing marijuana.