SENTENCE WON'T STOP POT USER

Drug Helps Stomach Disorder, Says Man Serving House Arrest

BRIDGEWATER - Ten minutes after starting to serve his sentence of house
arrest Wednesday, Arnold Salsman said he'll continue to smoke pot, even
though that's what got him in trouble in the first place.

Mr. Salsman said he suffers from acid reflux disease, and marijuana is the
only drug that alleviates his pain enough for him to eat.

The Aldersville, Lunenburg County, man pleaded guilty in Bridgewater
provincial court Wednesday to possession of marijuana and in return the
prosecutor dropped a drug trafficking charge.

Mr. Salsman, 42, was placed under house arrest for six months.

"I'm guilty of growing it, yes, I did do it," but Mr. Salsman said the pot
is strictly for his own use.

He's already had three operations for acid reflux disease and fears a
fourth after he meets with a specialist in June. He said he landed in
intensive care after complications from one of the surgeries, and said he'd
much rather smoke marijuana each day than go under the knife again.

But the RCMP have taken all his marijuana plants and leaves. They searched
his home in January and found some upstairs drying and the rest trimmed in
the living room.

The married father of one said he'll have to turn to the streets for his
supply, and he's worried about the safety of drugs he hasn't grown himself.

Judge Jim Burrill said police seized 2,096 grams of marijuana, though Mr.
Salsman maintains only a third of it can be smoked.

"He says he uses marijuana for what he perceives as a medical condition
although he does not have a medical exemption," the judge said.

Acid reflux is a condition that occurs when stomach acid repeatedly backs
up into the esophagus.

Mr. Salsman said his doctor in Kentville knows he smokes marijuana to
alleviate his pain so that he can eat. "He doesn't say anything. He says,
'Whatever's working for you.'"

However, he said he was not aware he could apply for an exemption from
Health Canada to grow and smoke the drug because of his medication condition.

Mr. Salsman said he will follow up with his doctor and seek such an exemption.

He said he's tried "numerous" prescription drugs but they don't help him.
"They just don't have an effect. I can't eat, or I try to eat and it hurts.
When I smoke, I have the urge to eat."

He said he's been smoking marijuana for 1.5 years, admittedly not for
medicinal purposes until about eight years ago. The carpenter said he
doesn't smoke or eat during the day, but smokes some marijuana when he gets
home from work so that he can eat supper.

Mr. Salsman said he does not know of any reliable suppliers on the street
because he's been growing his own marijuana for three years, but said he
has no choice but to go looking. "I have to, I've got to have it."

He would not say if he has access to pot now, but did say he would be
eating supper last night.