Catch That Buzz

MEDICINAL POT USERS HAIL WONDERS OF WEED AT HEMPFEST

Smoking marijuana did for Alison Myrden what pills and morphine could not
- -- ease her suffering from chronic progressive multiple sclerosis and
left-side trigeminal neuralgia, which causes extreme pain in her face.
Myrden was one of about six federal medical marijuana exemptees to attend
the three-day Hempfest 2001 that wrapped up Sunday in Ophir.

"Everybody thinks we're smoking to get stoned.

"It's not like that. There are no residual effects if you're smoking for a
medical reason," said Myrden on Saturday afternoon.

The 38-year-old Burlington resident smokes six small marijuana joints a
day, or half a small cigarette every two hours, in order to help her cope
with pain associated with MS.

It's a welcome change from a past daily intake of medication that peaked at
32 pills and 600 milligrams of morphine to help her cope with a host of
health issues including nerve pain, bladder dysfunction and muscle spasms.

"I have no choice. Nothing else works for it," she said.

She was introduced to pot in 1995 by a neighbour who could not stand to see
the pain she was in.

A former corrections officer who worked with young offenders, Myrden came
to Hempfest to teach others about the importance of medicinal marijuana.

First diagnosed with MS in 1992, Myrden is critical of the federal
government's spring announcement that the terminally ill and people
suffering from a variety of afflictions, including AIDS, epilepsy and
arthritis, would be given the right to possess and smoke marijuana legally
if they can prove they can't be treated with other drugs to alleviate
relentless pain.

"What does it do for us? It doesn't change a damn thing. I still have to
buy it off the street," said Myrden. "People are dying while (the federal
government) is playing their games."

She estimates spending $600 to $1,200 a month to buy marijuana from street
dealers and compassion houses. She spent $300 to make sure she'd have
enough pot during her trip to Northern Ontario.

Others who depend on marijuana to ease their pain may be too weak to
promote the use of pot so Myrden says it's her role to help spread the word.

"We have to teach Canada (marijuana) is helping a lot of sick and dying
people."

She's doing her part. In May 2000, she participated in a marijuana march in
Toronto. A feature-length story on Myrden appeared in a July issue of the
Burlington News.

Last summer her Web site, www.themarijuanamission.com, went on-line. The
site, which has 15,000 visits, includes newspaper articles, links to other
sites and her health background.

Stephen Van de Kemp bristles at comments Ontario Medical Association
president Dr. Kenneth Sky made to The Star on Thursday.

In a telephone interview, Sky said no good scientific evaluation of
marijuana for use in certain illnesses exists. He called on the federal
government to wait two-to-three years on its plan to provide marijuana
until conclusive studies could be held.

"It's just an excuse to delay the inevitable," said the Bradford resident,
who has an exemption to use marijuana to help with his depression, mood
swings and personality disorder.

Compassion clubs, not the federal government, should provide medicinal
users with marijuana, he said.

The government's marijuana growing operation in Flin Flon, Man. is a waste
of taxpayers' money, he said.

"Let free enterprise take over instead of government," said Van de Kemp.

"It has to open up. It has to be free."

The Vancouver-based Compassion Club describes itself as the largest medical
marijuana buyers' club in the country. Eight-to-10 varieties of cannabis
are usually for sale. Prices range from $5-to-$10 a gram.

Van de Kemp suggests doctors will refuse to sign the necessary forms to
allow their patients access to marijuana. "It'd be better to buy a Super 7
ticket than to try and get an exemption," he said. "Your odds are better."

The new rules create three categories of people who can possess the drug:
the terminally ill with a prognosis of death within one year; those with
symptoms associated with specific serious medical conditions; and those
with other medical conditions who have statements saying conventional
treatments have not worked.

Within two years, the former life insurance agent with Sun Life Canada
expects marijuana to be legal for anyone to use in Canada.

"It's only a matter of time," he said. "We need to take control of the ship
and steer it in another direction."

Lynn Harichy refuses to do the paperwork necessary so she can gain an
exemption allowing her to legally use marijuana.

"It's a hassle for me. It's too much work," said the 40-year-old London,
Ont. resident.

Harichy has smoked marijuana two-to-six times a day since 1996 to relieve
pain associated with her multiple sclerosis, anorexia and back pain.

Police should not worry about the fact that she grows her own marijuana,
said Harichy.

"I'm not out there giving it to children. I'm taking care of myself," said
the mother of four.

"Go after the real criminals. Don't go after sick people. Just because you
smoke a joint doesn't make you a criminal."

She's encouraged by the government's April decision to allow the use of
marijuana by those who need it because of health problems.

"They're opening the door. Now, let's open it wider," she said.

Hempfest organizer Rob Waddell suggested as many as 2,000-to-2,500 people
would be in attendance at the three-day festival held about 50 kilometres
northeast of Sault Ste. Marie.

But, a recently imposed restricted fire zone order by the Ministry of
Natural Resources was expected to drop that number down to about 1,500, he
said.