POT USERS BURN DRUG LAW

Medical Aid Challenged In Court

Medical marijuana advocates and users have asked a Superior Court judge to
turf regulations on the use of medicinal pot or order Ottawa to start
dealing out the bud grown in Manitoba for more federal research.

Eight people applied yesterday to the Ontario Superior Court to overturn
the Marijuana Medical Access Regulations and the section of the Controlled
Drugs and Substances Act that prohibits possession of grass.

One of the applicants, Marylynne Chamney, said outside the University Ave.
courthouse marijuana is the only thing she takes to deal with her epilepsy.

"It helped me gain weight," she said. "I started getting the munchies ...
It stopped my seizures. It replaces so many pills."

Other applicants have Multiple Sclerosis, depression, HIV, Hepatitis C or
spinal nerve disease.

Lawyers for the applicants argued the access regulations and the substances
act are not constitutional because it restricts their access to a safe
supply of a drug that they need.

"There is no lawful access for these people today," said Alan Young, lawyer
for Warren Hitzig, 26, and Alison Myrden.

Hitzig's Toronto Compassion Centre, which supplied medicinal pot, was
raided in August and he was charged with trafficking.