DEBATING THE WAR ON POT

Re: Harper's Misguided War On Pot, editorial, Nov. 23.

As a federal medical marijuana exemptee whose permit to grow marijuana
is jeopardized, I will probably be one of many very ill and dying
Canadians heading to prison if Ottawa's new drug laws are passed. For
those of us licensed to use cannabis to relieve pain and debilitating
nausea, we have no option but to grow our own medicine because the
costs of purchasing medical-quality cannabis are too high and not
covered by any insurance.

The cost of purchasing the quantity of cannabis required by most
licensed federal medical marijuana patients is in the area of $1,500
to $3,000 per month. For those on disability pensions, that is just
not affordable. Keep in mind that medical use of cannabis involves not
only smoking, but also vaporizing and mixing cannabis in cooking oils
and butter to cook and bake with. The latter methods require large
amounts of cannabis.

For sick and dying Canadians there will be no option but to continue
to grow our life-extending medicine, whether or not Mr. Harper wants
us to. That will fill prisons and for some, like myself, it will be
akin to bringing the death penalty back to Canada.

E. Jolin, potential prisoner in Canada's new war on drugs,
Pointe-Claire, Que.