Ontario Court Strikes Down Marijuana
Law, Jane Gadd, Globe and Mail
Last week, Ontario’s highest court declared the law prohibiting the
possession of marijuana unconstitutional, and has given Ottawa a
year to amend it or lose it, reports Jane Gadd on the Toronto
Globe and Mail website. Upholding a lower-court
decision in the case of epilepsy sufferer Terrance Parker, the
Ontario Court of Appeal said the lack of a provision for medical
marijuana forces patients to choose between the painful symptoms of
a chronic illness and imprisonment, violating their ‘fundamental
rights.’ The court decided to temporarily leave the prohibition on
possession of marijuana in place. ‘If [Parliament doesn’t] amend
the law and rectify the problem with [medical] exemptions, then
everyone will be entitled to smoke marijuana legally in 12 months,’
lawyer Alan Young told reporters. — Leif UtneGlobe and Mail report>>
For more information and a copy of the decision, go to
Marijuana News>>
leif@utne.com
