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>>
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