LAWYER SAYS REGULATIONS ARE TOO VAGUE

New federal regulations that took effect in the summer were intended
to clarify the boundaries for use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

But Abbotsford lawyer John Conroy, who has been involved with numerous
high-profile cases involving medicinal marijuana use, argues that the
current laws are too vague and ambiguous.

He calls the criteria for using medicinal marijuana "absurd" and says
the regulations make it more difficult for people who are suffering
health problems to use the drug.

"What specialist is going to do that without seeing a patient? And
usually it takes months to see a specialist," says Conroy, adding that
many patients have to fight to achieve what he considers is a basic
right to access the medicine of their choice.

"We have a hard time getting doctors to do what they were authorized
to do," notes Conroy, who believes that those with long-term medical
conditions should be able to use marijuana without applying for
special permits.

"On the scale of drugs, you don't have to prescribe something like
this," suggests Conroy.

He points out that several popular over the counter drugs -- like
ibuprofen, acetaminophen and aspirin -- have far greater toxicity and
thousands of people visit hospitals for health problems related to
excessive use of these drugs in North America each year.

"You can't smoke enough (marijuana) to kill yourself," Conroy argued.
"You'd fall asleep before that -- and that's the truth."

[sidebar]

There are three avenues for people who wish to legally use marijuana
for medicinal reasons to pursue.

1. Patients with terminal conditions can obtain an exception from
Health Canada with written permission from their physician.

2. Those with long-term health problems that are not terminal require
the permission of both a general practitioner and a specialist.

3. The third category -- which includes all cases not covered in the first
two -- requires written statements from one general practitioner and two
specialists.