A Prince George senior who has been using medical marijuana for years is praising a B.C. Appeal Court decision.
The ruling, which declared unconstitutional the limiting of medical marijuana use to only its dried form, could open the door to use the substance in any form, including oils, butters, cookies or even steeped in or as tea.
The decision states medical marijuana access regulations infringe on the charter rights of people requiring other forms of cannabis to treat illnesses.
"I think in the long run, everyone will benefit from this change," said Tom (not his real name), a 65-year-old local man who has been using marijuana for three years to manage anxiety and to help him sleep after successfully battling throat cancer.
"I rather suspect those using medical marijuana will be quite happy with that news," said Tom, who was featured in The Citizen in June 2013, when the government first announced its plan to stop licenced growers who would then have to go to dispensaries for their pot.
Tom was licenced for up to 25 plants but he only grew about half of that.
Using the pot he grew in his garage, he made marijuana-infused butter for use in cookie recipes. He eats one cookie each evening to help him sleep. Now he has stopped growing as his licence has expired.
A separate court decision is pending to see if people will have to stop growing their own medical marijuana and access their medicine only from dispensaries.
"I guess what's looming over them is what's going to develop," said Tom, who just had a positive five-year check up.
"But it's encouraging to hear that the courts are looking down favourably on it and looking at it from the constitutional side. That's the only way this government, I believe, will bend its knee."
Tom wants to make it clear that he certainly does not advocate for people to use marijuana as a recreational drug.
He said he just wants people who require its use for medical reasons to be able to do so, instead of being encouraged to pop a bunch of pharmaceutical drugs.
The Conservative government is attempting to overhaul Canada's medical marijuana system, which it says is rife with problems ranging from unsafe grow-ops to infiltration by criminals.
The new regulations restricted medical marijuana production to commercial growers but in March a judge granted an injunction allowing those who have a personal production licence to grow medical marijuana to continue, pending the outcome of a trial to be held at a later date.
"I'm waiting for the other shoe to come down," said Tom. "I suspect it will be a win-win for both sides. I believe the feds will end up with the institutionalized marijuana. You've got to remember that this stuff will be half the strength, cost a lot more and I don't know if people are going to be able to afford it."
He doesn't think the courts will side with the government completely.
"I think what they're going to say is that sure you can have your dispensaries to sell this stuff but the people who have been on the marijuana previous to this ruling will remain on it," Tom said. "I think there's going to be a split so new people will have to go into their program."
Tom said he probably won't try to get a licence to grow it again if that becomes an option once again.
"I just don't want the hassle any more," said Tom. But he won't be going to the dispensary, either. He said he'd take his chances and buy it on the street.
