AIDS VICTIM WANTS OTTAWA TO BE SUPPLIER

The first Canadian awarded an exemption by Ottawa to smoke marijuana
for medicinal purposes was in court Wednesday seeking a government
supply of the illicit drug.

Jim Wakeford, who has full-blown AIDS, has unsuccessfully tried to
cultivate pot. Now, he is seeking a court order that will force Ottawa
to provide him with the drug to deal with his symptoms of nausea and
appetite loss.

The Ontario Superior Court heard Wednesday that a proposed federal
research project could eventually meet Wakeford's drug need, but his
lawyer said that won't happen fast enough for his client.

`Jim doesn't need research, he's a dying man,' said Louis Sokolov.
Wakeford's lawyer told court there are at least two sources of legal
marijuana that Health Canada could access - the National Institute of
Drug Abuse in the U.S. and a private pharmaceutical company in the
U.K.

Lawyer Alan Young, who also represents Wakeford, 55, asked court to
also grant immunity to caregivers who put themselves in legal jeopardy
when supplying Wakeford with pot or helping him cultivate marijuana
plants.

`To think of someone with a terminal illness having to roam the
streets looking for a dealer is really not something I think Canadians
will accept or tolerate.' Young said in court.

Since a groundbreaking ruling in 1999, when Wakeford won the right to
possess, cultivate and use marijuana for the purpose of treating his
AIDS-related symptoms, about 35 Canadians have received similar
exemptions from Ottawa. While Wednesday's court challenge is specific
to Wakeford, court heard it will have an impact on each of the
Canadians who has since been given the right to use marijuana for
medicinal purposes.