ERASE MINOR CONVICTIONS FOR MARIJUANA: MPP FULL PARDONS URGED

WELLAND, Ont. - The federal government should expunge the criminal records
of every Canadian ever convicted of possessing small quantities of
marijuana, says a member of the Ontario legislature.

Peter Kormos made the call yesterday in a release issued in response to a
March 2 incident in which AIDS sufferer Jim Wakeford, one of about 170
Canadians who have a legal exemption to grow marijuana, was charged with
trafficking.

The Niagara Centre New Democrat advocates full pardons for anyone
criminalized for smoking pot or possessing small quantities of the illegal
drug.

"Peter is not just talking about medicinal purposes, he's going one step
further with that phrase," said Sheila White, his media spokeswoman.

Police seized 200 five-centimetre tall marijuana seedlings Mr. Wakefield was
growing for himself and other chronically ill people.

Mr. Wakeford, 56, was left with seven plants and 30 grams of marijuana he is
allowed under the terms of his exemption.

At the time of his arrest, he had just returned home from court where his
lawyers argued the law provides him inadequate protection from drug charges.

The man, who says he has two years left to live, is appealing a May 2000
court ruling that the government doesn't have to give him a safe supply of
pot.

"He's not an experienced marijuana grower. For him, 200 seedlings might not
even result in seven mature or potent pot plants," Mr. Kormos said.

Last December, Health Canada awarded a contract to a Saskatchewan company to
grow medicinal marijuana in an abandoned mine in Flin Flon, Man.

It's unknown when a supply will be available or how it will be distributed
to those granted exemptions. The government now forces patients to look to
organized crime for relief, Mr. Kormos said.