MEDICAL MARIJUANA USER FINDS A GROWER TO KEEP HIM SUPPLIED

A local man who says he needs medical marijuana to stay alive has found a
grower, thanks to the Capital News.

In mid-December, Richard Babcock told his story of the difficulties he's
had obtaining a steady supply of medical marijuana after his two previous
growers had gone sour.

After the story ran, Babcock said a Vernon man, John Burns, called him and
offered to grow on his behalf.

"After the article ran, this gentleman came forth," said Babcock. "He's
being wonderful about this whole thing, trying to take the stress off me.
It seems like this guy wants to help people in my situation."

Babcock, who has a medical marijuana exemption from the federal government,
said the situation was hurting his already fragile health.

"The stress about getting the marijuana on a regular basis is almost as bad
as not having it," he said. "There's the financial stress, the stress about
how to get it, the worry if it's organic and how it's been grown. Just to
have a decent grower with integrity who knows what I need and knows how to
grow medical marijuana takes so much pressure off you."

Then there are the health benefits for Babcock who suffers from AIDS and
hepatitis C.

"It helps me eat. I smoke a joint and head to the fridge, it takes away the
nausea, it helps me sleep, it helps me stay calmer," he said. "I'm dying
and I'm already stressed about that. I don't need any extras."

Burns himself says seeing what Babcock was smoking previously was enough to
motivate him to action.

"It was moldy and decomposing," he said. "It would have killed him before
whatever it is he's got."

Burns said he's well positioned as the interior accounts manager for
Advanced Nutrients to help Babcock.

"That's our basis, medical marijuana, that is nutrients that are plant
specific for medical marijuana," he said. "I've got more backing and
technical support behind me than any other person I know in the country.
And my boss is behind me 100 per cent."

Burns said he will not charge Babcock for the marijuana he supplies him
with, even though Office of Cannabis Medical Access charges $150 an ounce.

"It's free. I don't need anything in return," he said. "We need to get this
stuff out into the mainstream and let people know how hard it is for these
people," he said. "I want to make Richard's life as good as it can be for
as long as it lasts, which is hopefully a long time."

Besides growing under license for Babcock, Burns said the company is also
donating the equipment necessary to grow it should he have problems in the
future.