ERRORS, DELAYS IRRITATE LICENSED POT USER

N.S. Woman: Missed Shipments Left Her Without Pain
Relief

Playing by the rules has caused Dominika Somerton nothing but
pain.

The Falmouth, Hants County, woman, who is prescribed medical marijuana
for the pain caused by multiple sclerosis, says government red tape
has made it impossible to get the drug when she needs it.

"I'm tired of it. . . . I may as well be dealing with dealers," said
Somerton, who is still waiting for a shipment of medical marijuana she
ordered from Health Canada on Sept. 11.

"I'm not doing it to get high. I'm doing it to manage the
pain."

Federal regulations came into effect in 2001 allowing seriously ill
people to apply for a licence from Health Canada to use marijuana for
medical purposes as prescribed by a physician.

A system is also in place in which those with licences can buy dried
marijuana or marijuana seeds through Health Canada.

In September 2009, Somerton received a Health Canada licence to use
marijuana as prescribed by her physician.

A secretary on long-term disability, Somerton orders a one-month
supply of her prescription from Health Canada because that is all she
can afford.

She had no problems receiving the first three shipments. Following
that, Somerton said she has run into one problem after another.

"Oftentimes, I have gone two weeks without having any medicinal
marijuana, or it was lost in the shipping, or they have no idea where
it is right now.

"I never know if I am going to be waiting for another two weeks or if
I am going to get it in three days," she said in a recent interview.
"I have no idea, and when I call somebody, they can't tell you."

After making a number of email inquires to Health Canada about the
latest shipment delay, she received a reply saying her annual licence
to possess the drug expired Sept. 23.

However, Somerton, said her physician has twice faxed the necessary
paperwork to Health Canada to renew her licence.

"That was over seven weeks ago, but nobody (at Health Canada) can tell
me if the paperwork has been received," said Somerton.

"They don't know if they can find it."

Citing privacy reasons, Ashley Lemire, a Health Canada spokeswoman,
said she can't comment on Somerton's case.

Lemire did say there is a delay in issuing licences for medical
marijuana use because of a backlog caused by the growth in demand for
licences.

At the time of this writing, she couldn't say how long applicants are
waiting for their applications to be processed.

As of August of this year, 4,903 Canadians held a licence to possess
marijuana for medical purposes, compared with 2,888 in August 2008,
according to government statistics.

Lemire, who is based in Ottawa, said she is not aware of any delays in
supplying marijuana to licensed clients.

"Health Canada strives to ensure that all clients receive their
monthly supply of marijuana for medical purposes without
interruption," Lemire said by email

"Health Canada is not experiencing delays in the supply of marijuana
for medical purposes."

Those licensed to use marijuana can also apply for a personal-use
production licence to grow the marijuana themselves or a designate
licence for someone to cultivate it for them, said Lemire.

Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2008, Somerton said she cannot
even roll marijuana herself because of her symptoms and has to smoke
it through a pipe. It is the only drug that alleviates her pain
without intolerable side-effects, she said.

"The whole right side of body is like a dead weight. It is like being
paralyzed. When I smoke weed, it allows me to feel my arm and I can
actually have sensation in it. I can move my arm freely."

As of late 2009, those who order marijuana from Health Canada have to
prepay for it. That new policy was put in place "as Health Canada
continued to incur a significant amount of debt as a result of the
accounts in arrears of some authorized persons," Lemire said.

When something is prepaid for, an even larger obligation exists to
make certain the client receives it promptly, said Somerton, who has
emailed her concerns to Premier Darrell Dexter and Prime Minister
Stephen Harper.

"It is too frustrating. It is too much."

'I'm tired of it. . . . I may as well be dealing with
dealers.'

Medical marijuana user

DOMINIKA SOMERTON