WOMAN THINKS IT'S HIGH TIME SHE GOT POT LICENCE

OTTAWA -- A woman who's been waiting five months for an updated
licence to use medical marijuana says the situation for patients is
getting worse.

Marie Tripp applied in August to change her licence after her doctor
doubled her prescription for cannabis, and spoke to QMI Agency at the
end of September about previous delays getting renewals and changes
for her licence. Tripp suffers from fibro myalgia, chronic fatigue
and osteoarthritis, but doesn't use any painkillers other than marijuana.

She's waited so long for the approval, however, that she's only five
weeks away from having to renew her old license, an annual
requirement for those approved to use pot to ease their chronic pain
and help their appetites.

Tripp says she confirmed her application was in order, but was then
told she submitted too much information, and her application was
being returned to her.

Health Canada issues licences to people with debilitating illnesses
and prescriptions from their doctors. Almost 5,000 Canadians have
licences to carry marijuana and just over 3,500 have a licence to grow it.

But Tripp and others worry they risk being charged with possession,
or even having their homes raided by police, while they wait.

"My grower is growing what I'm allowed, without a valid license for
the amount that's on my table," Tripp said, "because of Health
Canada's inability to get the cards to us."

Tripp has resubmitted her application as a licence renewal with an
amendment, but her application is now on the bottom of the pile again.

Liberal health critic Ujjal Dosanjh points out this is a doctor's
prescription to which Tripp is entitled.

"This government is playing doctor ... because they hate the idea of
allowing anyone to take marijuana."

A spokesman for Health Canada says the department streamlined its
process and is now hitting its eight to 10 week processing time
target, but wouldn't comment on Tripp's case, citing privacy concerns.