CANNABIS GROUP FIGHTS OMNIBUS CRIME BILL

A group that promotes medical marijuana rights says the federal
government's omnibus crime bill would make criminals out of people
with legitimate health conditions.

Representatives for Maritimers Unite for Medical Marijuana Society say
the bill will impose mandatory prison sentences of at least six months
for anyone convicted of growing as few as six cannabis plants.

"Countless patients are either oblivious to Health Canada's medical
marijuana program or are struggling to gain access to it due to
physician reticence," Debbie Stultz-Giffin, the group's chairwoman,
said in a news release. "This means that many sick people who rely on
cannabis to alleviate health considerations, who are otherwise
law-abiding citizens, will be thrown under the bus with this
legislation.

According to the release, the medical marijuana access regulations, in
place for 10 years, have been proven to be unconstitutional in many
Canadian courts due to accessibility issues and only offer legal
protection to about 12,000 patients. A Canadian Medical Association
survey revealed that at least 400,000 people use cannabis for medical
reasons.

"The omnibus bill will do exactly the opposite of what the
Conservative party claims, Bob Dillman of Law Enforcement Against
Prohibition said in the release.

"The only thing that prohibition and mandatory sentences have
succeeded to do in the United States is bankrupt the country. In fact,
many states that implemented mandatory minimums are shying away from
them as they have proven to be ineffective policy.