The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

A4 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday May 3, 2000 O P E IM S a t. M a y 6 th l l a m H & - O 6 p m U S E S u n . M a y 7th MS sufferer believes the sick deserve access to m arijuana By Paul Mitchison SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Alison Myrden apologizes just before she inhales deeply on a marijuana cigarette and explains it's the only way she can relieve the stabbing pain in her cheek. A few puffs later, she puts the cigarette out in an ashtray, leaving the rest for later. At a street price of $320 an ounce -- about a two-week supply -- she won't waste it. Myrden recently received permission from the federal government to smoke mari juana legally and wants the community to know all about it `This drug has been the only reason I'm even partially able to comfortably live my life," she said. `The bad part is, I have to rely on what's sold on the street with no guarantees about the quality or whether it's mouldy or been sprayed with chemicals." She chuckles when asked it she feels the effect of the drug. "I don't feel anything but instant pain relief and if I didn't have this pain in my face I wouldn't have anything to do with it." Myrden, 36, lives with chronic progressive Multiple Sclerosis and relies on a cane to get around. She also suffers from secondary tri-geminal neuralgia, a stabbing pain that attacks her left cheek. A former youth worker who now lives modestly on a disability pension, she attempts to remain positive and optimistic about her cir cumstances. A few years ago she weighed 200 pounds more than today, was hospital ized and unable to walk. While she describes her life with MS as a difficult road, she has, of late, started to feel a lot more healthy and energized. She credits taking certain types of vitamins and the fact she's been able to remove herself from daily doses of prescription mor phine -- thanks to marijuana. And Myrden now wants to make a personal campaign of spreading the word about the health benefits of medical marijuana, which she thinks use medical marijuana, know ing there are no legal sources to supply it. "For now, Health Canada recognizes the problem of having a personal supply," she said. `That's why we permit them (under Section 56) to cultivate their own supply." While legal issues and health issues currently seem to be in conflict, there's a plan to begin clinical trials and the government will provide mar ijuana for research purposes. "I don't know how quickly it realistically will be up and running and providing a quan tity that will be available for research purposes and so forth," Tremblay said. Myrden, who grew up in Oakville, said she wasn't properly diagnosed for years although she complained of tingling in her legs while a cheerleader at Queen Elizabeth Park. "They just said it was nothing and that it was likely a muscle strain," she said. Finally, at the age of 28, a battery of tests confirmed the MS diagnosis. Aside from street suppli ers, Myrden receives marijua na from the Toronto Compassion Club but is adamant that the federal gov ernment should guarantee a controlled supply of medicalgrade cannabis to MS suffer ers and those with other dis eases whose effects are eased by marijuana. And how did Myrden get to become a spokesperson for medicinal marijuana? "Most of those who need marijuana to relieve their pain are usually dying or heavily drugged-I was almost comatose (from drugs) before taking marijuana." Before smoking marijua na, Myrden said she was tak ing 600 mg. of morphine a day and at one time, up to 32 pills of various kinds at once. The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada is fully behind Myrden and is also lobbying for a guaranteed supply of safe marijuana for people like Alison. "How can the federal gov ernment give you a legal pre scription for an illegal sub stance and then not ensure a, supply?' is Myrden's rhetori cal question. For many like her, the silence coming from Ottawa is deafening. 1503 O a k h ill D r i v e , (0& ) e O a k v ille 0eA'/stad/e ffikes/iore ^/(/Hiajfocation Beautiful bungalow in south east Oakville. Home features a professionally landscaped 100' x 210' lot complete with mature trees and fish pond. 3 bedrooms, large finished recroom with possible 4th bedroom. I 1/2 baths, large eat-in kitchen, separate dining room, central air, gas fireplace in living room, recent upgrades. Double garage. No agents please. m e n p S P E C IA L · Diagnostic check of engine · Supply & install spark plugs · Check charging systems · Check battery fit cables · Check cooling systems \ · Check oil fluid levels ! · Check all belts and hoses | · Check tires & pressure · lube all doors · Check all filters 4 & 6 CVUNDCft 8 CVUNDCR 95 95 |ffl OIL CHBNOt UJITH VOUB TUNt UP D riv e C le a n R e p a ir C e n tre AUTO SERVICE 573 Chartwell Rd. OAKVILLE Accredited Repair Facility (9 0 5 ) 8 4 4 -9 6 4 1 Photo by Ron Kuzyk Alison Myrden and marijuana cigarette: it's legal for her to get pain relief but controlled suppy is another matter. should be made available to part-time to afford this and she should be using that money to all those people who need it. She's aware of others with enjoy her life," said Myrden. medical conditions who "It pains me that I have to rely smoke illegally. Advocates of on her for this." marijuana say it's particularly But Joyce said it's worth it, helpful to chemotherapy seeing the improvement in her patients who are suffering the daughter's mood and energy effects of nausea and loss of levels since turning to mari appetite. juana and away from other Myrden thinks the federal prescription drugs. government should change Myrden's permission to its laws to make the product smoke marijuana was granted legally available through by Health Canada under its pharmacies but only with a Therapeutic Products Program along with 35 other doctor's prescription. "The relief is instant," she people since last June. She's technically exempt said. "Within 10 minutes I have no pain, depending on ed from the Controlled Drugs the strength of the marijuana. I and Substances Act, and thus have also noticed my leg permitted to possess about spasms are either completely one ounce. She can also legal gone or severely lessened." ly grow a small number of But to get that pain relief, plants. she relies on her widowed Myrden says she won't mother,. Joyce, to help with grow her own for fear of invit the costs of buying marijuana. ing break-ins and because While one compassionate she's not convinced she capa supplier provides it at cost, it ble of creating a product of is still $500 a month or more. sufficient strength and quanti "She's a senior and works ty Rosylyn Tremblay, a media relations officer for Health Canada, acknowl edged there's an inconsistency in allowing certain people to ENNISCLARE INTERIORS C E L E B R A T E M O T H E R ' S DAY IN S T Y L E ! C A N A D IA N M E N T A L H E A L T H A S S O C IA T IO N L 'A S S O C IA T IO N C A N A D IE N N E PO UR LA SA N TE M ENTALE 20-40% O F F on o u r g r e a t s e l e c t i o n of a c c e s s o r i e s . Halton Branch, requires a volunteer to run our fundraising Bingo. Our commitment is every 3rd Saturday at the Delta Bingo Hall in Oakville. The existing "team" will remain, but we need someone who knows the ropes and can take over the lead, or we can train if necessary. If you are interested in supporting CMHA Halton in this way please call Karen at (905) 6 9 3 -4 2 7 0 We offer our students an excellent full-day junior kindergarten program. Join us fo r our JK Open House on Thursday May 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. We still have openings for our junior kindergarten and Grade Two classes, as well as in Grades Four through Eight. Call 825-1247, ext. 221 or visit us at Third Line and Lakeshore Rd. W. · · · · C h o o se the gift of b e a u ty fo r h e r at E n n is c la re In te rio rs. · · Strong academic focus Christian values and perspectives Full day junior and senior kindergarten Programs in music, French, art, athletics Computer studies Dedicated and caring staff · Before and after school supervision (7am-6pm) T he p e r f e c t g ift t h a t 's a l w a y s w e l c o m e E N N IS C LA R E IN TE R IO R S 1075 N O R TH SER VIC E RD. WEST. O A K V ILLE . Tel: (9 05 ) 8 2 5 -2 4 5 0 S TO R E H O U R S : M o n., Tues., W e d . & S a t.1 0 :0 0 a m to 5 :3 0 p m T hurs. & Fri. 10:00 am to 9 :0 0 p m . S un. N o o n to 5 :0 0 pm SALE EN DS JU N E 4, 2000. W H ILE Q U AN TITIES LAST. OAKVILLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 825-1247 112 Third Line O akville L 6 L 3Z 6 "Nurturing Excellence in a Christ-centred Academ ic Environment"