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Jobs of the New Millenium
By Hempology | January 17, 2002
From MONDAY MAGAZINE, January 17th 2002.
by Anh Hoang
- Name: Ted Smith
- Occupation: Medical marijuana seller-advocate
Employed by:
The Cannabis Buyers’ Clubs (CBC) of Canada, where he serves as the
coordinator. The head office is located at the back of Ted’s Books,
826 Johnson Street. Started six years ago, it is the oldest such
club in the country and boasts more than 800 members. It sells
marijuana for medicinal use.
Background:
Smith, 32, has a philosophy degree from Wilfred Laurier University
in Waterloo, and has published eight books ranging from novels to
poetry. A long-time recreational marijuana smoker, Smith became
involved with the Hempology 101 society in Vancouver seven years ago.
He quickly became an advocate for medicinal marijuana after meeting
some AIDS patients and seeing how the drug eased their illness.
Who needs his services:
People who use marijuana for relief from health problems ranging from
Hepatitis C and AIDS to chronic pain. To get a membership card, people
must provide a doctor’s note detailing their ailments.
Legal status:
On January 3, seven pounds of marijuana was seized from the club,
after a complaint from a former member, whom Smith had cut off.
“When the police came in here they saw some marijuana on the table,”
says Smith, pointing to a desk that could be easily seen from the
front entrance. The marijuana is usually confined to a back room
in the store. No charges have been laid, but Smith expects he will
be charged with possession and trafficking. “I could be thrown in
jail right now. If they charge me this time, it will be a total
of four trafficking charges for me,” says Smith, who is still
awaiting court dates for his previous charges.
Cost of doing business:
The seizure, the club’s first, set it back about $8,000.
Growth potential:
There is only one federal government-licensed distributor of medicinal
marijuana, in Manitoba, and about 18 unlicensed clubs across Canada.
“We’re not getting any kind of regulations from Health Canada on how
to run the clubs,” says Smith. “They’re not allowing us to have licenses.”
Business stragegy:
Smith wants health canada to offer wider distribution of medicinal
marijuana to patients, or to license clubs like his. “Health Canada
has given hundreds of people the legal right to possess and grow
cannabis for medical purposes,” says Smith. “[But] they have not given
a gram or seed to a sick person yet.” A lack of cannabis distributors
have forced patients to buy marijuana on the street or go to clubs
like the CBC.
“There’s no legal source to get it,” says Smith. “There’s nowhere for
you to get it. People who need it have been forced to break the law to
get it even though they’re allowed to have it.”
Long-range planning:
“The club’s goal is to have the government put us out of business. They
should be the ones providing this to people who need it.”
Professional expertise:
“B.C. has the best medicinal marijuana in the world; there’s no
pesticide… I’ve had people who fly here from Hawaii to buy it.”
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