News (Media Awareness Project) - CN BC: Licence To Grow |
| Title: | CN BC: Licence To Grow |
| Published On: | 2002-09-13 |
| Source: | Chilliwack Progress (CN BC) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-22 01:47:16 |
LICENCE TO GROW
Brian Carlisle got a licence to grow and possess marijuana for medical
purposes this week, more than a year after he first applied for an
exemption - now called a licence - more than a year ago.
An American pot activist, Steve Kubby, currently seeking refugee status in
Canada, was granted a similar medical marijuana licence last week.
Mr. Carlisle says he expects that granting the exemption to an American
citizen is going to give Canadian applicants "leverage" at Health Canada.
"I think it will encourage a lot of Canadians who have given up," he says.
He attributes his long wait for an exemption to "a lot of bad doctors who
were ignoring my very serious symptoms."
A spokesperson for the B.C. Medical Association says there are no hard and
fast rules for doctors who are asked to approve patients' applications for
exemptions in this province.
Mr. Carlisle, who opened a marijuana "compassion" club in Chilliwack last
month, says he intends to start using his licence in public at the new
courthouse cafe.
"I want the public to start becoming familiar with licenced people, become
aware that we are a reality and we're not going away, " he says. "I am
going to have my meds and a caramel macchiato ... at high noon and at 4:20
p.m.," a time he says is an "international symbol" for after-work users of
marijuana.
The compassion club, located just a block away from the new Chilliwack
courthouse, now has about 40 members, 26 of whom already possess extended
medical marijuana exemptions.
The licence issued to Mr. Carlisle allows him to grow his own marijuana,
which he says means he no longer has to break the law and risk arrest for
buying pot from illegal sources.
"I can finally say good-bye to the black market, once and for all," he
says. "My family has lived in fear and danger every day for almost nine
years. Now I can finally put that to rest."
A marijuana trafficking charge against Mr. Carlisle was stayed earlier this
year by a provincial court judge, and a cultivation charge stemming from
the same incident was stayed yesterday.
Brian Carlisle got a licence to grow and possess marijuana for medical
purposes this week, more than a year after he first applied for an
exemption - now called a licence - more than a year ago.
An American pot activist, Steve Kubby, currently seeking refugee status in
Canada, was granted a similar medical marijuana licence last week.
Mr. Carlisle says he expects that granting the exemption to an American
citizen is going to give Canadian applicants "leverage" at Health Canada.
"I think it will encourage a lot of Canadians who have given up," he says.
He attributes his long wait for an exemption to "a lot of bad doctors who
were ignoring my very serious symptoms."
A spokesperson for the B.C. Medical Association says there are no hard and
fast rules for doctors who are asked to approve patients' applications for
exemptions in this province.
Mr. Carlisle, who opened a marijuana "compassion" club in Chilliwack last
month, says he intends to start using his licence in public at the new
courthouse cafe.
"I want the public to start becoming familiar with licenced people, become
aware that we are a reality and we're not going away, " he says. "I am
going to have my meds and a caramel macchiato ... at high noon and at 4:20
p.m.," a time he says is an "international symbol" for after-work users of
marijuana.
The compassion club, located just a block away from the new Chilliwack
courthouse, now has about 40 members, 26 of whom already possess extended
medical marijuana exemptions.
The licence issued to Mr. Carlisle allows him to grow his own marijuana,
which he says means he no longer has to break the law and risk arrest for
buying pot from illegal sources.
"I can finally say good-bye to the black market, once and for all," he
says. "My family has lived in fear and danger every day for almost nine
years. Now I can finally put that to rest."
A marijuana trafficking charge against Mr. Carlisle was stayed earlier this
year by a provincial court judge, and a cultivation charge stemming from
the same incident was stayed yesterday.
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