MAN WANTS TO BE ABLE TO USE MARIJUANA FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES

A local man, who uses marijuana for medicinal purposes, wants a judge
to omit the standard no-illegal-drugs condition from his probation order.

Ronald Renner, 47, was in court Tuesday, where he pleaded guilty to
possession of the controlled substance.

He had faced a count of trafficking, but the prosecutor accepted a
plea to simple possession.

A joint Crown-defence sentencing submission called for 12-months
probation with 75 hours of community service.

Defence counsel Ross Romano asked Ontario Court Justice Kristine
Bignell not to impose the usual condition that would require his
HIV-positive client to abstain from using the drug.

Renner isn't addicted to marijuana, but he is "going to be going
through significant aches and pains," he said. "He doesn't know if he
can tolerate it (the pain)."

Federal prosecutor Wayne Chorney opposed the defence request to omit
that standard probation condition imposed for drug offences.

"The court shouldn't be seen relaxing that condition for people who
have serious health issues," he argued.

Outside the courtroom, Chorney said accepting the plea to the lesser
offence was a "compassionate exercise of prosecutorial discretion."

"It was low-end trafficking, no commerciality. We took a
compassionate approach."

The court heard Renner attempted to send a package, containing 15
grams of marijuana, by bus to a friend in White River last March.

Renner told the judge he began using marijuana when he was diagnosed in 2003.

"I know marijuana is not a cure. I would never trade it off for my
pharmaceuticals," he said, adding that when he combines the two his
health is better.

"That's the only thing that restores my appetite," he said.

Renner said he tried a number of times to get access to a medical
exemption, but he was unable to find a doctor in Sault Ste. Marie who
was prepared to assist him.

After he was charged on March 9, he said he learned about the Toronto
Compassion Centre, where he has been able to access marijuana.

This incident "got this whole process fast-tracked for me," he said.

Bignell decided she wants to know about the organization before she
sentences Renner.

"I'm seriously considering making that condition part of your
probation," she told him.

Sentencing was adjourned until March 30, so the lawyers can obtain
more information for the court.

According to its website, the centre is a not-for-profit compassion
club established in 1997 and run "by members for members."

Its purpose is to provide "information relating to the therapeutic
use of cannabis" and to "facilitate access to a consistent, safe and
dependable source of medical cannabis products" for people suffering
from ailments for which the drug has shown to be effective.