B.C. MAN GETS ABSOLUTE DISCHARGE IN COURT BATTLE OVER MEDICAL MARIJUANA

PENTICTON, B.C. (CP) - A 59-year-old man was given an absolute
discharge Wednesday at the end of a lengthy court battle over the
medicinal use of marijuana. The ruling means Errol Dammert of
Osoyoos, B.C., will not have a criminal record. He had earlier been
found guilty in B.C. Supreme Court on two counts of production of
marijuana. The trial began in January 2000.

The charges followed a June 1997 police raid on Dammert's former home
in the hills east of Osoyoos and a June 1998 incident when police at
a roadblock found a tray of 100 baby pot plants in a truck Dammert
was driving.

The entire amount seized was less than three kilograms.

Dammert was severely injured in a motorcycle accident in Penticton in
August 1984. He fractured his spine in the crash and still suffers
from chronic back, shoulder and leg pain, as well as severe headaches.

He said marijuana can ease his pain within minutes so in addition to
smoking pot, he drinks it in tea and adds it to baked goods.

Defence lawyer Ian McAndrews had argued that the charges should be
dismissed, saying that although Dammert agreed to no longer grow pot
illegally, he must continue to smoke it for pain relief.

Earlier defence plans for a constitutional appeal of the marijuana
charges were dropped due to the high legal costs involved.

Crown counsel John Cooper had asked for a conditional sentence.

He did not dispute that the marijuana was to be used by Dammert for
his own pain relief and was not selling the drug to others.

"Given all the circumstances, I am of the view that an absolute
discharge is appropriate in this case," said Justice Mary Humphries.
"I do not see the need to impose punitive conditions on Mr. Dammert."

Humphries noted the whole issue of Canada's medicinal marijuana laws
is still evolving before the Supreme Court of Canada and the federal
government.

Outside court, Dammert said he's ecstatic over the court decision.

"I can't see why it's illegal if you're suffering from pain," he
said. "If you've got a warehouse full of it, that's a different
story."

Dammert, needs a cane to walk, said he now plans to continue his
efforts to obtain a federal exemption which allows for the medicinal
use of marijuana.

He said his application is "99 per cent approved" with the exception
of one key form which must be signed by a doctor.

Dammert plans to go to Vancouver where he hopes to be referred to a
specialist through the Compassion Club, an organization for medicinal
marijuana users.