"MOTLEY" OFFENDS

Re "Protesters light into new fed pot rules," Sept. 20: As Chair of the
Canadian AIDS Society (CAS), I take offence to the use of the word "motley"
to describe a group of people challenging the federal government's rules
governing medicinal marijuana as well as the law that makes possession a
crime.

While it is acceptable to use the word motley to describe "a number of
different kinds" (Gage Canadian Dictionary), its use in this context is
offensive to this group of people who are suffering from serious diseases.
To describe the group this way undermines the importance of this issue and
also reflects a lack of understanding surrounding the use of medical
marijuana.

People infected with HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, multiple sclerosis, to name a
few, rely on medicinal marijuana to ease their pain and also to increase
their appetites and to treat a number of symptoms. While Canadians, with a
legal exemption, are currently permitted to smoke marijuana for medicinal
purposes, many are forced to break the law to get it. Distribution for the
government cultivated marijuana will not begin until clinical trials are
completed. Consequently, many people, such as those that appeared in court,
are being denied treatment.

The Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS clearly outlines the commitment by the
federal government to support the best treatment possible for people living
with HIV/AIDS and identify and eliminate potential barriers that prevent us
from providing that care and support. These barriers include the current
lack of reliable access to marijuana for medical use.

CAS believes that people living with HIV/AIDS and their physicians should
have access to a stable, quality assured, affordable supply of marijuana and
a distribution mechanism that is safe and efficient. The federal government
needs to ensure this supply, while also taking an active role to support
research on the medicinal properties of all the active ingredients in
marihuana in the treatment of a broad range of health conditions, including
HIV/AIDS.

Michael Yoder

Chair, Board of Directors

Canadian AIDS Society

(We agree. As for the use of the word "motley," considering that the story
was entirely dedicated to relating the sufferers' viewpoint, we'd say you're
rushing to take offence)