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Police destroy a sick man’s medicinal plants, Health Canada apologizes
By Hempology | August 2, 2007
Drayton Valley Western Review, AB
31 Jul 2007
Roszan Holmen
EVANSBURG MAN PLANS TO SUE POLICE
A man from Evansburg is suing the RCMP for seizing marijuana plants he says he was growing for medicinal purposes.
Two years ago, Steve Chorney received a licence under the federal medical-marijuana program to grow a limited number of plants to manage chronic pain in his legs, which has prevented him from working since 1996.
At about 10 a.m. on July 23, Chorney said three RCMP members arrived at his house in three separate vehicles, made a bee-line for the plants and started pulling them out of the ground.
“When I approached them to question them and I asked if I could go in the house to prove my documentation, my letters from Health Canada, I was threatened to be arrested.”
Corporal James House of the Evansburg RCMP said this information is incorrect. He said he gave Chorney permission to grab his paperwork and that he produced an expired licence for 25 indoor plants.
House found 72 plants growing outdoors, but could not comment on whether he suspected Chorney of dealing.
House, who was granted an emergency order to destroy the plants, said the matter is before the Crown to determine if charges are pending.
Chorney admits his licence had expired but said he filed the proper paperwork in January or February for a new licence to grow 35 outdoor plants. He said Health Canada was aware he moved his plants outside and had advised him to keep growing the plants while waiting for his new licence.
Because a suit is pending, Chorney wouldn’t discuss what compensation he is seeking for his lost plants, but he said the police’s actions were ludicrous.
“All he did is make a sick man sicker,” he said.
“Where am I going to get my marijuana medicine? Am I going to go to the street? I don’t think so, because I don’t know who grew it or what’s put in it or if it’s laced with anything.”
For now, Chorney said he is back on his painkillers that are causing him many health problems, such as liver damage, high cholesterol and blood pressure.
The pills are also expensive. Chorney said he pays $1,000 each month to fill his prescriptions, while growing pot costs between $100 and $200 per year.
Chorney said he has been in touch with Health Canada who apologized for what happened and told him his licence would arrive as quickly as possible.
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