HOPE FOR AIDS MAN

Judge To Re-Open Medical Pot Case

Judge Harry LaForme has decided to hear arguments on re-opening a
legal bid by a Toronto man for the right to smoke pot for medical reasons.

"In the meantime, the government's cruelty to me continues," said Jim
Wakeford, who smokes two joints a day to offset AIDS symptoms. He
wants use of marijuana to be legalized for medicinal purposes.

Justice LaForme agreed Friday to hear evidence on whether he has
jurisdiction to re-open the hearing and, if so, he'll decide the issue
as well.

Last fall, LaForme rejected Wakeford's attempt to have the court
exempt him from the law controlling the drug's use. The judge said
then he made the decision because he believed there was a provision
available in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to obtain lawful
access to pot.

That mechanism is a special application directly to the federal
minister of health for an exemption.

But Wakeford's lawyer, Alan Young, said since that application was
made seven months ago there has only been one letter from the
government and nothing has happened.