JOLIETTE, Que - A 50-year-old Quebecer who had a Health Canada permit to grow medicinal cannabis to ease his pain has received a one-year suspended jail sentence.
Yvan Ferland. who suffered back injuries in an airplane accident, was convicted two weeks ago of growing marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.
Ferland, who has no other criminal record, will serve his sentence in the community northeast of Montreal and will be on two years' probation.
He will also have to pay a $300 fine.
Justice James Brunton cited the growth of cannabis distribution in the Joliette region in rendering his decision and said Ferland had abused the privileges granted him by the federal Health Department.
Brunton said in his ruling he is not indifferent to Ferland's pain and that he does not believe he will reoffend.
