THE TAXMAN TAXES HER TOKES

Woman Charged HST on Medical Marijuana

Warkworth -- The taxman wants to make sure he scores off Adrienne
Baker-Hicks' pot purchases.

The Warkworth woman didn't expect to get hit for nearly $100 of HST
monthly when buying her usual $750 shipments of medical marijuana.

But the taxman has been digging into her pocket ever since the HST
came into effect in July.

"It's ridiculous," said Baker-Hicks, 52, who became licensed to
purchase marijuana last year.

"I am charged $97.50 per shipment. The pills I have to take from my
doctors, I don't have to pay HST on them," she added. "Here, the
doctor signs it. That's how they fill out the cards -- they have to put
how many grams you get for the month. It's the same thing as a
prescription."

In the case of prescription drugs, a patient pays only a dispensing
fee.

"I'm able to afford (the HST), but there are some people who can't,"
she said.

Her allotment of 150 grams of pot each month helps Baker-Hicks deal
with 27 chronic diseases.

It helps with the pain of her degenerated bone spurs that damage her
spinal cord, a blood condition and a disorder which causes seizures.

"It helps you deal with your day," she said.

The former biomedical researcher has been on long-term disability for
10 years and stays mainly at home with her husband in their Warkworth
home.

"Health Canada charges me and I've spoken to them and I'm still
waiting for callbacks from them from March," she said.

According to Health Canada, which regulates medicinal marijuana, pot
is subject to HST in applicable jurisdictions -- including Ontario.

"Dried marijuana is not an approved therapeutic drug (i. e.
prescription drug under the Food and Drug Act," said Health Canada
spokesman Stephane Shank.

The Canadian Revenue Agency could not provide a comment on why HST was
being charged on the plant.

"Individuals who obtain a Health Canada supply of marijuana for
medical purposes may claim the costs of their marijuana as a medical
expense for tax purposes, provided that they have kept their
Government of Canada receipts," Shank added.

It's little comfort for Baker-Hicks, who accused the government of
weeding out those who smoke pot to help cope with their illnesses.

"With each shipment I get the paperwork from Ottawa telling me the
government doesn't recommend the use of medical marijuana and that
it's addictive," she said "That tells you what the government thinks
about us using marijuana."