Friday June 29, 2006 Rielle Capler and the B.C.C.C.S.

Friday June 29, 2006Rielle Capler and the B.C.C.C.S.In an attempt to introduce and explain ourselves, we are sending you this letter and package of information about the CBC of C. We hope that this may help facilitate communication and cooperation between our club and the BCCS.

First, we would like to thank you and congratulate your group for the leadership that the BCCCS has provided over the years. Watching you bring the issue to national attention with your determined professionalism has been greatly appreciated by everyone working in the medical cannabis field.

Our story in Victoria is filled with much more struggle. When we started the CBC of C in Jan. 1996, I was living in a van. As you can imagine, it took many years to accumulate enough resources and members to open a store. To help give you an understanding of our efforts, we have included all 9 issues of our newsletter, Cannabis Digest, a copy of our most important court decision and some other information.

Included in this package are letters of correspondence between our club and VICS from a few years ago. From these letters you can see that we have had difficulty being accepted by the “compassion club” community since our beginning. This was in part due to our strong mandate that requires proof of doctor’s diagnosis of a permanent, physical disability or disease but does not require a recommendation to use cannabis from a doctor unless it is for a mental health issue. The other main reason Phil Lucas seems to have a problem with us is because of our proactive efforts to legalize cannabis through our International Hempology 101 Society. This problem exists despite the fact that he has attended many of our rallies when it suited his purposes, and continues to support other groups that advocate for the legal distribution of all drugs. 

Last summer I tried to pay an unannounced visit upon Rielle Capler. The staff at the front desk had never heard of our club and expressed concern that I wanted into the club. I tried to explain that I had started the oldest medical cannabis club in Canada in Victoria but was not known of, in part, because VICS claimed to be the only “compassion” club in town. Unfortunately, I lost my cool at one point in the conversation, and I should have apologized in writing for my behaviour before now. I am very sorry to have created a disturbance in your sanctuary and am truly embarrassed about the lack of professionalism and tact I showed that day. I promise I will never behave that way in your space again.

Recently someone else from our group became upset after being treated rudely by your staff and refused medicine. Apparently there is some confusion about your policy to sign a release form so that we can send you medical information. He was aware that I had made a phone call to Rielle to confirm that he was a member in good standing and I thought there was an understanding that he could be served without any roadblocks. At some point in the conversation when our member was trying to get medicine, it was implied that our club did not demand to see medical information before signing someone up. Given that he works the front desk at our club, our member was very insulted and disturbed that such dangerous, vicious rumours are being spread by the compassion club community. Unfortunately part of his response was to write a letter in anger, a letter in which he makes some accusations and incorrect statements, and after cooling off, he regrets the angry and unproductive tone with which he responded.

It is very regrettable that incidents such as these occur when we should be working together. However, it is difficult not getting upset after having been excluded from the ‘compassion club’ community for so long when the courts and City of Victoria consider our mandate and functions to be constitutionally sound and morally responsible. After all, is a ‘compassion club’ an organization that sells cannabis products to sick people, or does it need to be incorporated with the name ’compassion’ included?

We believe it is important for our organizations to learn how to work together to provide better services to our members and the country at large. For that to happen, there are a few things we would like to see. First, if someone from your group wanted to visit our store we would be happy to show them the inner workings of the CBC of C as much as possible. Second, it is important to us that we become acknowledged as a legitimate club by the BCCCS when articles are written like the recent article in Cannabis Culture. Finally, we are the oldest public medical cannabis club in Canada, and while the BCCCS will likely always be the largest compassion club in the country, the CBC of C deserves credit for being the first group to form. While we realize that it will not be easy to give up the title of the oldest club in Canada, the fact is we began operating in Jan 1996, over 1 year before the BCCCS formed. Accepting the truth and the CBC of C will make the movement stronger and will not take away any of the hard work and professionalism that has made the BCCCS what it is today.

Many of the issues I have raised have bubbled under the surface for years. The recent incidents where I and others have lost their temper should be turned into opportunities to learn more about each other and build a better movement.

If there is something we can do to improve or clarify the situation, please do not hesitate to call me at 381-4220. We look forward to our future relations. by Ted Smith

Many believe Canada’s medical marijuana program isn’t working. But the recent expiration of the government contract to Manitoba’s Prairie Plant Systems to supply medical marijuana may just give the program the shot in the arm it needs.

Despite the fact the Canadian government has already spent more than $5.5-million on the program, fewer than 200 Canadians are currently enrolled in the program. The Canadian AIDS Society reports only 1.7 per cent of Canadian medical marijuana patients take part in the government’s program, while 85 per cent of them obtain their marijuana on the black market.

“The proof is in the pudding – if the product is substandard, people will get it elsewhere,” says Marc Boris St-Maurice of the Montreal Compassion Centre. “When Health Canada provides a top-notch product, then you’ll find more people using it. Right now there are a lot of complaints about the quality, the concentration and the state in which [the pot] is delivered. A lot of that has to do with the restrictions and guidelines set by Health Canada, so it’s not all the fault of Prairie Plant Systems.”

St-Maurice expects the tendering process for a new medical marijuana contract will be open this September, at which point the Montreal Compassion Centre will submit a bid. “We have the knowledge and experience because we deal with patients on a daily basis. We can deliver a product for a good price and meet Heath Canada’s requirements, and at the same time better educate them to improve the program. We also think they should have more than one supplier so that monopoly isn’t an issue. Competition is good.”

If the Montreal Compassion Centre gets the contract, St-Maurice says they’ll grow the medical marijuana outside Montreal. “We’ll set up shop in small towns in Quebec where people need the work.”

Donations Gratefully Accepted
Annual Subscription to printed version $10

Contact CANNABIS DIGEST at: (250) 381-4220 or hemp101@shaw.ca

Cannabis Digest is a quarterly publication of the International Hempology 101 Society, which provides current legal, medical, and political updates concerning the medicinal use, growth and supply of cannabis. The Cannabis Buyers’ Clubs of Canada helps people with permanent physical disabilities and diseases. The Cannabis Digest is available online and in newsprint.

Thanks to all our contributors: Ted Smith, Gayle Quin, Chris Bennett, BCCCS, Tony Clements, Richard Burnett (reprinted article).

The process of cooking- cannabis into food and skin products should be understood and promoted by Health Canada. Eating cannabis and applying it to the skin can provide great relief from pain and other symptoms related to serious medical problems. We are absolutely positive of this because of the living experience of the approximately 1800 members of our club who use cannabis food and skin products to help eat, sleep, walk and think better every single day.
We will continue to advocate for changes to the MMAR to include cannabis resin and cannabis (THC) until it happens. Many people’s lives depend upon ingesting using methods other than smoking. It is ironic to think that we are trying to convince Health Canada that eating and topically applying cannabis can be a safe alternative to smoking. If drugs can be made using the various cannabinoids of cannabis, how can you deny sick people the right to make simple, natural food and skin products that are often more effective than prescription drugs with fewer negative side effects?
As you can tell from the letter from the City of Victoria, there are many people who believe that the MMAR have fundamental flaws which cause unnecessary suffering. Your job, and many people’s lives, would be much easier if compassion clubs such as the CBC of C had exemptions from the CDSA to provide the cannabis products and services that sick people are demanding.
Though we do not expect any sudden changes in Health Canada that would quickly see the changes we want come into effect happen soon, we do hope that you will at least attempt to answer our questions with some thought in mind towards the sick and vulnerable people who depend upon this medicine.
Thank you for your time and if you have any questions about our club or products, please do not hesitate from calling me.

Leon ‘Ted’ Smith President, International Hempology 101 Society

On August 16, CBC of C founder Ted Smith was invited to speak about the history of medical cannabis and his efforts to supply cannabis products to sick people at the breakfast meeting of the Victoria Harbourside Rotary Club. It went very well. Congratulations to this year’s winners of the 2nd Annual ‘Reach For The Pot’ tournament. The game featured the Med Heads, with two returning members (Gord + Jon) from the team that lost in the finals last year, against the Sticky Kolas, with captain Dean from the winning team last year. For the 2nd year in a row, the final came down to the last question, but destiny did not permit another come from behind victory like last year. There are five members of the winning team because Ed and Rick each played 1V2 game’s. This year’s winning team is Gord Campsall (aka John), Steve Trigg, Jon Longpre, Rick Jesson and Ed Chrosciewicz. Thanks to all 32 contestants in this year’s tournament and to all of our sponsors. The CBC of C is gearing up for the 4th Annual Art Auction with the first call to all proud Artist that would like to donate a piece for the auction. This is in celebration of International Medical Marijuana Day on Nov. 15. when the auction ends. We always enjoy new works on the walls while they are here, and have been very great full for everyone’s contributions and support. Medicinal biscuits for dogs are one of our newest products! 1 have been making cannabis dog biscuits for 15 years. Veterinarians have watched tumours disappear and arthritic’s play like puppies, heard chronic cough go away. Cannabis has held lymph cancer in remission for 13 years, stopped infections, and reduced agony for pet and owner both.
We have also just introduced Biscbuddies They are barley, chick pea and oat flour, cannabis infused olive oil, hemp hearts, sea salt and powdered kelp. Then dipped in pure dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate or left plain for special diets.