JUDGE GIVES MAN TIME TO SEEK APPROVAL FOR POT USE

ST. STEPHEN - Adam Troy Dickerson needs a physician to sign papers to
allow him to legally use marijuana to control pain.

His family doctor agreed he fit the criteria under federal law to
medically use the otherwise illegal drug, but would not sign the
papers as a matter of policy, duty counsel Joel Hansen told
provincial court Judge David Walker this week.

At an earlier court appearance Dickerson, 27, of Elmsville, pleaded
guilty to producing marijuana.

Walker adjourned sentencing to allow Dickerson to follow Hansen's
advice to find out if he could qualify to legally use marijuana
medically. The judge adjourned sentencing to May 19 to allow
Dickerson to try to find another doctor to sign the papers.

This paperwork will not provide a defence against the charge facing
him because he did not have it at the time the RCMP arrested him.

It might provide grounds for mitigation at the sentencing hearing, Walker said.

Dickerson's own family doctor will not sign papers to allow patients
to use marijuana, but Health Canada told him that 57 doctors in New
Brunswick will sign them, Hansen told the court.

The lawyer advised Dickerson to go to the College of Physicians and
Surgeons to find one of these doctors.

Walker agreed to allow time to find a doctor to sign the papers, then
submit them to Health Canada and get a response back.

If Dickerson cannot find a doctor willing to sign, he might have a
constitutional argument, Hansen said.

The pre-sentence report states that Dickerson continues to use
marijuana to control pain, federal Crown prosecutor Peter Thorn said.

Dickerson should agree not to use the drug until legally allowed to
do so, Thorn said.

"But in the meantime they self-medicate, and they breach the court
order," Walker responded.

Dickerson would have to find a physician to sign the papers demanded
by Health Canada, Walker said.

"This is squarely your responsibility," the judge told him.