Jim Wakeford (born 1944 in Regina,

Saskatchewan Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a province in western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dak ...

) is a

medical marijuana Medical cannabis, or medical marijuana (MMJ), is cannabis and cannabinoids that are prescribed by physicians for their patients. The use of cannabis as medicine has not been rigorously tested due to production and governmental restrictions ...

advocate based in

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...

, Canada. In 1989 Wakeford was diagnosed with the

HIV virus The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of ''Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immune ...

. The medicines used to treat his illness made him nauseated and inhibited his appetite. Wakeford credits marijuana with helping treat the side effects of the medications used to keep him alive. Wakeford and his lawyer

Alan Young Alan Young (born Angus Young; November 19, 1919 – May 19, 2016) was a British, Canadian and American actor, comedian, radio host and television host, whom ''TV Guide'' called "the Charlie Chaplin of television". His notable roles includ ...

challenged the Ontario Court's General Division for denying him, and other medical marijuana users, the right to use the drug. The Harvard paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould assisted Wakeford by testifying in the case, arguing that the illicit substance proved invaluable in treating the side effects of his cancer treatments. On September 7, 1998, Wakeford's suit against the government was dismissed. The judge ruled it was up to

Parliament In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. Th ...

to overturn the law. In May 1999 the courts ruled that Wakeford could smoke and grow his own marijuana.CBC.
The National
' May 11, 1999.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wakeford, Jim 1944 births Living people Canadian activists People from Regina, Saskatchewan People with HIV/AIDS