QUESTIONS BEING RAISED ABOUT MEDICAL POT EXEMPTIONS

An American seeking refugee status in Canada was granted a medical
exemption last week to grow and use marijuana for medical purposes by
Health Canada.

But Canadian citizen Brian Carlisle, a Chilliwack resident, has so far been
denied a similar exemption, despite being in a higher patient category and
despite filing his application earlier.

"If we don't get it today (Friday) that's it," Mr. Carlisle says. "We go to
court (today) Tuesday and ask to get the regulations thrown out."

"Obviously those regulations aren't working if a category one person can
get approved in three to four weeks," he adds.

U.S. Pot activist Steve Kubby was issued an exemption by Health Canada for
a category 3 illness - chronic and long-term – on Thursday. Mr. Carlisle's
application is for category one – terminal patients with 12 months to live.
Applications for both categories require doctors' approvals.

"Almost three weeks have passed and Mr. Carlisle's condition is
deteriorating rapidly," defense lawyer Dale Pedersen says in a letter to
the Office of Cannabis Medical Access. "In my opinion, in light of the
urgency, the delay ... is simply unacceptable."

Mr. Pedersen says he will ask the B.C. Supreme Court to strike down the
regulations for medical marijuana as unconstitutional.

The exemption granted Mr. Kubby allows him to grow 59 marijuana plants,
possess and travel with 360 grams, and store 2,655 grams. The exemption
lasts for one year.

Mr. Kubby's wife Michele says the Health Canada program "still has too many
hoops for sick people to jump through" but should serve as a model to U.S.
lawmakers.