LEGAL POT SMOKERS GROWING IN NUMBER ACROSS CANADA

OTTAWA - The number of Canadians legally permitted to use pot as
medicine has tripled in the past three years since the Conservatives
took power.

At last official count by Health Canada this past June, 4,029 people
were authorized to possess cannabis under Marijuana Medical Access
Regulations, 2,841 were allowed to grow their own plants and 481 had
special permission to grow it on behalf of another patient. That's up
from 1,273 who had permits in February 2006.

Ontario leads the legal pot pack with 1,631 licensed tokers, while
1,008 British Columbians have the right to light up. Manitoba,
Alberta and New Brunswick have the fewest authorizations, and only 39
people have permits in Newfoundland.

Ottawa resident Russell Barth, who legally smokes pot to help relieve
symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder and
fibromyalgia, is pleased authorized pot users are on the upward swing
but believes the official tally represents a small fraction of those
using marijuana for treatment. Many patients don't bother to apply
for a permit because of onerous paperwork or can't find a doctor to
sign their forms.

He said even when patients do have legal permission, they have
trouble accessing quality, affordable pot. They also face hurdles
transporting it and smoking it where they need it.

"It's obscene. It's systematic discrimination," he said.

Health Canada grants permission to people who are suffering from
grave an debilitating illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, cancer,
arthritis, epilepsy or HIV/AIDS.

Barth said Conservative Bill C-15, which cracks down on drug
offences, including tougher penalties for marijuana trafficking,
could impact legal medicinal users by making access more costly and
less secure.

Smaller growers and compassion clubs will fear being thrown in jail
for long terms and will leave the market to organized criminals, he said.

Blair Longley, leader of the Marijuana Party of Canada, said he sees
the rising number of legal authorizations as a good sign more doctors
are valuing its medicinal properties.

"When the program started, you had to almost prove you'd be dead in
six months," he said. "Now it's more wide-based and easier to get for
things like migraines and arthritis."