As It Happens

Remembering Cpl. Ron Francis, the Mountie who fought to smoke marijuana on the job

Ron Francis was an RCMP Corporal who made headlines across the country during his fight to smoke medical marijuana at work, while in uniform. He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and had been prescribed with medical marijuana to help him. But eventually the RCMP came to his home and took away his uniform last November, after more than 20 years...

Ron Francis was an RCMP Corporal who made headlines across the country during his fight to smoke medical marijuana at work, while in uniform. He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and had been prescribed with medical marijuana to help him. But eventually the RCMP came to his home and took away his uniform last November, after more than 20 years of service. Corporal Ron Francis killed himself yesterday.

T.J. Burke was his lawyer, and a childhood friend. As It Happens host Carol Off reached Burke in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

We also spoke with Corporal Francis in November 2013, recorded moments after the RCMP took away his uniform: