Article content

TORONTO — Canada’s ban on marijuana was effectively upheld Friday when Ontario’s top court struck down the country’s laws related to medicinal pot much to the chagrin of activist groups.

In overturning a lower court ruling, the Court of Appeal ruled the trial judge had made numerous errors in striking down the country’s medical pot laws.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Pot is still illegal: Ontario’s top court upholds country’s marijuana laws in medicinal pot case Back to video

Among other things, the Appeal Court found the judge was wrong to interpret an earlier ruling as creating a constitutional right to use medical marijuana.

“Given that marijuana can medically benefit some individuals, a blanket criminal prohibition on its use is unconstitutional,” the Appeal Court said.

“(However), this court did not hold that serious illness gives rise to an automatic right to use marijuana.”

Currently, doctors are allowed to exempt patients from the ban on marijuana, but many physicians have refused to prescribe the drug on the grounds its benefits are not scientifically proven.