TORIES ERRING IN ENFORCING MEDICAL POT RULES

Sir: I would like to address the medical use of cannabis.

I can't believe there are still people out there who won't accept this
plant as medicine, in particular law enforcement, which is being
totally controlled by the Conservative government at the taxpayers'
expense.

A current Maclean's magazine poll shows 93 per cent of the general
public to be in support of the medical use of cannabis, while the
current government wants to squash the entire Health Canada program by
sicing the police on to licensed people so they can prove the program
is being abused.

The police have been accused of waiting for licenses to expire and
then raiding the premises and charging people with crimes they were
permitted to do. This tactic is appalling since the government is the
one issuing the licence and applying a list of rules and regulations
that can't be followed by even the most informed lawyers, prosecutors
and judges. So hundreds of thousands of dollars are currently being
spent by our government in the persecution of sick and dying people,
so we can once again make the cannabis plant illegal.

It is currently unconstitutional to be convicted for possession of
cannabis in Canada, yet people with licences are being forced to take
plea bargains because they don't have the resources to fight these
charges. This is clearly wrong and needs to be looked at closely
before the next election.

So be well informed before you vote because you can make a difference
for the people who need this medicine.

This about compassion for people who need our help.

Todd Lumley

Sarnia