Medical marijuana injunction appealed by federal government

The federal government will contest an injunction that allows people to continue to grow medical marijuana while a full legal challenge plays out in the courts.

It is the latest salvo in a series of legal actions over how the government administers its medical pot program.

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Earlier this month, Federal Court Judge Michael Manson ruled that patients currently licensed to grow their own marijuana would be permitted to produce the drug even after new regulations banning the practice take effect Tuesday.

The judge granted an application from medical marijuana patients seeking a temporary injunction to preserve the status quo until their constitutional challenge of the new system could be heard.

The government said Monday it will ask the Federal Court of Appeal to overturn the injunction.

Under the existing federal program, thousands of people have licences to cultivate marijuana for personal use to help ease painful symptoms of conditions such as diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

The government says growing marijuana at home poses hazards including mould, fire, toxic chemicals and the threat of home invasion by criminals.

It plans to allow only select commercial producers to grow marijuana under "secure and sanitary conditions" for distribution through the mail to medically approved patients.

"We want to remind Canadians that marijuana is not an approved drug or medicine in Canada," the department said in a statement announcing its intention to appeal. "Health Canada does not endorse its use."

However, the injunction stands for the moment, meaning patients can continue to grow pot at least until the next ruling.

It is unclear when the federal appeal of the injunction will be heard.

Charter challenge

If the government ultimately fails to overturn Manson's decision, it will leave the path clear for the patients' constitutional challenge of the planned new system.

As a result, the matter could be tied up in the courts for many months to come.

Several patients currently permitted to grow their own pot or serve as a designated grower for someone else argue the planned new system denies ill Canadians a safe, affordable supply of medical marijuana.

Some say they can grow supplies at home for pennies a gram, while official suppliers licensed by Health Canada charge anywhere from a discounted price of $3 a gram to as much as $13.50.

Patients say denying people the right to produce their own pot would violate their Charter of Rights guarantee of "security of the person."

The government rejects the constitutional argument, saying the charter does not ensure the right to produce one's own medication.

The number of people authorized to possess and often grow marijuana under the federal program has risen to 37,000 this year from fewer than 100 in 2001.

Several opponents of the planned federal changes including lead counsel John Conroy plan to talk about the case in Ottawa on Tuesday and hold a rally on Parliament Hill.