DECRIMINALIZATION MISSES MEDICAL ACCESS

Dear Editor,

The new, proposed decriminalization law, which does not allow for medical
access to marijuana, will be in violation of the Parker decision circa July
2000, just as was the case heard by Justice Rogin which has cleared the
personal possession law in Ontario.

The new law would be thrown out under the same principle.

Marijuana possession of 30 grams or less will be legal in Ontario for the
foreseeable future. And, since other provinces take the lead of Ontario,
said act will be legal for all Canadians soon enough.

The teen's pot acquittal is being appealed in the Ontario Court of Appeals,
the same court that issued the Parker decision. The feds will lose, and
lose badly.

As they will if they go to the Supreme Court. The order of Parker may not
be revisited.

If someone wishes to look for someone to blame for this, blame your
Parliament for not taking advantage of the three years they had to rework
the possession laws to conform to the Parker decision. They were supposed
to only have one year.

This is a good development, and in line with many of the recommendations in
scholarly drug policy works. All Canadians owe Terry Parker and the Ontario
Court of Appeals a deep thank you for bringing Canada to a sensible drug
policy concerning personal marijuana possession, something politicians
appear incapable of doing.

Matthew Hulett

Brick, New Jersey, U.S.A.