If there is a silver lining to the anguish that Sooke couple Cam Cavaco and Marnie OB次元官网网址橬eil have endured over medicinal marijuana, it is the support they have received from the community.
The couple launched a lawsuit against the RCMP and Health Canada B次元官网网址� both which declined to comment because the matter is now before the B.C. Supreme Court B次元官网网址� last month for damages suffered after RCMP allegedly raided their home in late 2009, destroying their licensed medicinal marijuana production facility without a warrant.
B次元官网网址淭he effect from that day is ongoing and my husband has lost abilities he will not get back,B次元官网网址� said OB次元官网网址橬eil, who suffers from fibromyalgia, a condition that causes muscle and connective tissue pain that is alleviated through the use of marijuana. Cavaco, a former RCMP officer serving on the Mainland in the 1980s, has late stage progressive multiple sclerosis leaving him housebound and on a plethora of medication from muscle relaxants to valium B次元官网网址� marijuana is the only treatment that doesnB次元官网网址檛 come with severe side effects, OB次元官网网址橬eil said.
Since taking legal action, OB次元官网网址橬eil said there has been a B次元官网网址渢sunami of correspondenceB次元官网网址� from people letting them know they are not alone in this experience and that others are pursuing a similar course.
B次元官网网址淲e have just had an overwhelming amount of thank yous, you know, thank you for fighting when we canB次元官网网址檛. Lots of support to help to get people to understand this is not just a bunch of 15-year-old kids smoking pot,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淭hese people are chronically and terminally ill, and stress kills. There has to be some kind of responsibility held to both Health Canada and the RCMP in this kind of process.B次元官网网址�
The biggest reason the couple is turning to the courts is education, said OB次元官网网址橬eil who also spoke on her husbandB次元官网网址檚 behalf due to his worsening condition.
B次元官网网址淎 huge part of the responsibility lies with Health Canada. They have left patients in legal limbo that allow the RCMP a window (to raid), but there has to be some kind of responsibility to community policing. They had no understanding of our challenges.B次元官网网址�
The problem is a lingering stigma associated with the drug, said OB次元官网网址橬eil. She waited over eight months for Health Canada to process her full licence, and Cavaco still hasnB次元官网网址檛 received a proper renewal despite being one of the first Canadian license holders in 2000.
B次元官网网址淚t comes down to treating people kindly and communicating and understanding this is medication.B次元官网网址�
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
