AIDS PATIENT SUES FOR RIGHT TO USE MARIJUANA

Drug Eases Pain, Restores Appetite, Says Man, 53

A Toronto man living with AIDS is taking the federal government to court
demanding the legal right to use marijuana as medicine - and demanding that
Ottawa supply him with the drug.

``I'm filing a suit to obtain medical marijuana, not only for myself, but
for all Canadians who need it,'' Jim Wakeford told a news conference
yesterday.

``I'm sick and I'd like to have some relief while I'm still alive. I'd like
legal relief,'' said the emaciated 53-year-old.

Wakeford was diagnosed with AIDS in 1989 and has been on disability since
1993. He is a former executive director of an AIDS hostel.

He takes 40 pills a day but the medicine has a long list of painful side
effects, including nausea, diarrhea, stomach upset and insomnia.

Wakeford smokes two marijuana cigarettes a day to deal with the pain and to
help restore his appetite. But he has had to buy the drug in dangerous
street deals.

``I want legal, safe and affordable medical marijuana,'' he said. ``I
should not have to deal with the black market.''

Wakeford's physician, Dr. John Goodhew, says he and a group of 50 other
AIDS specialists, endorse the call for medical marijuana because patients
have shown improvement.

``It's time we completely rethink Canada's drug laws,'' Goodhew said,
adding that ``the law is such I'm not able to suggest smoking marijuana''
to patients at present.

Lawyer Alan Young said the case, set to open in Ontario Court, general
division May 4, will cite a precedent set in December by another Toronto
man, Terry Parker.

`I'm sick and I'd like to have some relief while I'm still alive. I'd like
legal relief'

Parker, an epileptic, said the Charter of Rights and Freedoms allows him to
smoke marijuana to ease his symptoms and an Ontario Court, provincial
division judge agreed.

Young predicted a ``cakewalk in court'' and added he will press to have the
federal government supply the cannabis to Wakeford in order to ensure
quality and affordability.

``It's callous, cruel and insensitive to deny this man access,'' the lawyer
said.