Cannabis ban dropped 'to test' Ontario man with paranoid schizophrenia who killed his mother
An Ontario man with a history of drug abuse who was found not criminally responsible for murdering his mother by striking her “numerous times on the head, back, neck, and arms with several weapons, including a large bladed knife, a smaller paring knife, a claw hammer and a large pry bar,” has seen his cannabis prohibition removed as a test to see how he handles it.
Michael Stewart, now 46, was deemed not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder in May 2003 on a charge of second-degree murder for killing his mom, June Stewart, in Renfrew, Ont., the previous year.
“Mr. Stewart now recognizes cannabis use as risky although he reportedly remains unable to connect its use to a likelihood of a mental health relapse,” said a recent decision from the Ontario Review Board.
“As a result, this panel has removed the existing cannabis prohibition to test whether he has also internalized the need to abstain from cannabis use.”
The board found Stewart, who has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, “continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public.”
It had ordered Stewart to abstain from cannabis after he reported using it occasionally in 2023.
Stewart’s psychiatrist “noted that his patient does recognize that the use of cannabis is risky but does not grasp the connection to a risk of relapse of his psychotic illness or into substance misuse,” said the Feb. 24 decision.
“Mr. Stewart cannot identify his symptoms as part of his illness and requires prompting when those symptoms emerge.”
As an adolescent, Stewart abused psilocybin, alcohol, and LSD, though those problems are in remission, according to the review board. Stewart also had a cannabis dependence as an adolescent that’s in remission, said the decision.
“Alcohol use began in grade 9. He often drank until he passed out. By grade 10, he was using hashish, LSD, magic mushrooms, and cannabis,” it said.
“At one point, he smoked as many as eight cannabis joints per day. Mr. Stewart has said he thinks magic mushrooms triggered his first experience with psychotic symptoms.”
Stewart has lived “independently in the community” in Brockville since 2013 and regularly takes clozapine to handle his symptoms, said the decision.
His forensic psychiatrist “identified three ongoing risk factors” facing Stewart. Those include “dysfunction and low motivation which increases the risk of medication non-compliance, difficulties in identifying symptoms,” and a “vulnerability” to “substance use” in the form of cannabis.
Stewart “grew up in Ottawa and had a normal childhood,” said the decision. “He graduated high school with grades in the high 80s. Thereafter, he began a program at Queen’s University but had to leave after just one week due to the onset of psychotic symptoms that precipitated his first admission” at The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre (ROMHC).
“From September 1998 to July 2002, Mr. Stewart was hospitalized for psychiatric treatment nine times. The common precipitant to these admissions was his violent behavior toward others and failure to take his prescribed medications.”
After he was found not criminally responsible for killing his mom, Stewart “was initially placed at Ontario’s high secure forensic hospital, the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health,” said the decision.
“He was transferred to the ROMHC in 2009 so he could attend university and thereafter transitioned to a group home.”
When “school proved overly difficult and stressful” Stewart “was readmitted to the ROMHC in 2010 to review his medications,” said the decision. “Taken off clozapine, he quickly became psychotic again. Historically, Mr. Stewart’s mental illness only responds to treatment with clozapine.”
Stewart was eventually transferred to the Brockville Mental Health Centre, where his recent review board hearing was held.
“His mental health improved significantly during his first year at Brockville after re-starting clozapine treatment. Mr. Stewart has now lived independently in the community since 2013.”
The board granted Stewart a conditional discharge in 2021.
“He experienced significant stress due to the COVID pandemic,” said the decision. “In 2023 he broke up with his girlfriend with whom he had been living and moved into a two-bedroom apartment with another person who receives outpatient mental health care.”
On the day Stewart killed his mother in July 2002, “he had been hospitalized at the Royal Ottawa Hospital,” and “walked away” without leave, said the decision.
“He obtained a ride to his residence in Renfrew where he arrived in early afternoon. Later in the afternoon, the accused’s mother arrived home from work and was confronted by the accused.”
An altercation ensued and he killed her during a severe episode of psychosis.
“The cause of death was severe blunt trauma to the head,” said the decision.
His psychiatrist testified that Stewart “has continued to engage with the Forensic Intensive Treatment Team and has remained stable.”
Over the past year, Stewart “has demonstrated stability in the context of ongoing monitoring, medication supervision and structure,” said the decision.
“At present, his level of risk is moderate. This is due to negative symptoms as well as past historical vulnerability associated with previous substance relapse and mental fragility. (His psychiatrist’s) principal risk concern is if Mr. Stewart resumes the use of cannabis this could precipitate a relapse of psychosis.”
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