WEEDING OUT A LEGAL PROBLEM

A licensed medical marijuana user charged with cultivating her own medicine
has had all charges against her stayed.

Wheelchair-bound Margaret Harrington was jubilant yesterday after her
appearance in a Kemptville court.

"I'm free and that's what I wanted," she said.

The Crown attorney motioned to have the charge of possession of an
unlawfully produced substance stayed for the next year. Harrington said the
items seized upon her arrest are to be returned to her.

SNIFFED OUT

Harrington was arrested on April 22 after OPP officers discovered 10
marijuana plants growing in her basement. The officers were there on a
separate matter when they smelled the plants.

At the time, Harrington had a Health Canada permit allowing her to possess
marijuana for medical purposes, but she did not have a grower's licence
which would enable her to grow up to 25 plants. The second permit arrived
in the mail two days after her arrest, she said.

She had originally applied for the permit because she says
government-issued pot is "sub-standard."

Harrington said police need to be better educated about medical marijuana
possession to prevent similar incidents.