HOW DO YOU SPELL RELIEF?

Users Seek Marijuana Exemption

Two Edmontonians tired of battling cops to use marijuana to alleviate
chronic pain hope the federal government will soon offer relief.

Both separately convicted for marijuana possession despite court arguments
it soothes their pain, Dean Troyer and Patricia Weber want to apply to the
federal health minister for an exemption from laws prohibiting marijuana
cultivation and its use. Health Minister Allan Rock set up clinical trials
a year ago to study pot's medicinal purposes.

Troyer, a city firefighter, is waiting for a diagnosis Friday to find out
if he has Crohn's disease - a chronic inflammation of the intestine causing
abdominal pain, fever and weight loss.

"Marijuana helps ease the pain, and right now I haven't been eating much
more than a piece of white toast. I've lost a lot of weight lately," said
Troyer, 42, who has been off work since last July.

"It's pain control, and appetite stimulant."

With his pain relief came a high price; he was fined $2,500 and put on six
months probation a year ago for having a hydroponic grow-operation in his
basement.

Troyer has done extensive research on the effects and health benefits of
marijuana and sees medical exemptions as a step in the right direction.

But that step doesn't go far enough, he said.

"They give you an exemption but there's no way you can get the product
legally. You have to grow it on your own and, if you're too sick to grow it
on your own, what do you do?"

Research has shown marijuana destroyed brain tumours in mice, quells
multiple sclerosis tremors and prevents brain damage from strokes, said Troy.

"I think there's more than enough evidence. If smoking a joint helps, then
you should be smoking a joint. When you talk about medical marijuana,
you're talking about basic human rights," he said.

"The only problem I had with pot is that I got arrested."

Troy and Weber both hope to see prescriptions for marijuana given out to
suffering patients.

Weber was fined $600 in December 1997 for her marijuana use to combat
migraine headaches and arthritis.

Her daughter's suggestion to apply for the federal exemption has raised her
interest, she said.

"I am thinking about it, definitely, because I don't want to keep getting
busted."

A Tylenol 3 for her migraines takes about 20 minutes to kick in, but "a
little toke will help it right away," said Weber. "I also use it for
arthritis."

She said not everyone should have access to the weed.

"You can't have kids using marijuana in school," Weber said.

"I'm an old bag.

"Let me enjoy my life, the rest of it."