A new study from the Canadian AIDS Society’ ( CAS ) says Canadians living with HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses need better access to medical marijuana. The study report identifies barriers that prevent patients from getting a reliable and affordable supply of medical pot and proposes ways to make access easier.
According to the CAS, barriers include lack of awareness of the existence of Health Canada’s cannabis access program misinformation about the program, general mistrust of government, and difficulty finding doctors who will support program applications.Today, those needing medicinal weed can get it legally only from very limited sources: buying cannabis grown by a government contractor, buying seeds from the government and growing plants on their own, or designating a person to grow plants only for them.
But with 58,000 Canadians living with HIV/AIDS, only 1,399 people are authorized by Health Canada to possess cannabis. Only 26 percent of those who participated in the CAS study have valid authorization, and only 1.7 percent of those users get their marijuana from the government. The vast majority’ of study participants indicated they get their weed from illegal sources. And the government has expressed its intention to phase out growers licences, which will further force users to either go without the benefits of medical marijuana or to break the law for the sake of their health and quality of life.
Physicians may be unwilling to support their patients’ program applications on a wider scale, the report says, because research into the effects of long term use of weed- especially the effects of smoking it-has been hampered by the stigmatization of marijuana as a purely recreational drug. The Canadian Medical Protective Association-the insurer for the medical profession-advised doctors in 2001 not to complete the government program documents unless they have “detailed knowledge” about cannabis. But the CAS study indicates between 14 and 37 percent of those living with HIV/AIDS already use marijuana to help alleviate symptoms like appetite loss, wasting, nausea, pain, anxiety, depression and stress. It stands to reason, and research has shown, that those struggling with nausea may be more likely to swallow prescribed medications, and keep them down,0 if they use cannabis.
The CAS recommendations call for an overhaul of the federal medical cannabis program, the inclusion of medical marijuana users in ongoing policy formation dialogue, the protection of medical pot users from criminal prosecution, and active dissemination of information to combat stigma and to help those who need medical pot to access a safe, reliable, and affordable supply.
“We favour providing authorized persons with a variety of legal options and projects,” reads the CAS report. “Offering only one legal source and one strain of cannabis for distribution to authorized Canadians may not be a constitutionally adequate alternative…” Brent Lewandoski, a member of the national steering committee for the CAS study and one of the four panellists at a Jun 14 press conference in Ottawa to launch the study report, said people have the right to choose the therapy best suited to them.’it’s very important that people be aware that people who use medicinal cannabis do so to improve their quality’ of life and to help them [get] better and [become] productive people in society.” he said. – -With files from Matt Mills   www.cdnaids.ca

Using an argument called jury nullification, similar to Henry Morgentaler in the famous 1980’s abortion trials, John Hooker, Krieger s lawyer told the admitted to the jury that Grant broke the law but argued he should not be convicted due to reasons of conscience. Two members of the jury tried to be excused telling the court that their conscience and religion could not allow them to proceed with a conviction but the judge rejected those requests.

Last month, Mr. Krieger was found guilty of trafficking after sending packages to people in Manitoba for medicinal uses. Provincial court Judge William Pepler found him guilty of two counts of trafficking in marijuana on December 3rd, 2003, and January 8th. 2004. Sentencing for those offences is next year.

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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 our contributors: Ted Smith, Gayle Quin, Veronica Horn, Cathy von Kintzel, Edgar Lawrence. Matt Mills, Susan Russell, Ian Mulgrew.

Halifax Chronicle Herald

MACCAN — Provincial Royal Canadian Legion officials have shut down their Maccan branch for supporting use of a homemade marijuana oil that some local members claim saves lives and relieves suffering.

But an ousted executive member says he’s not backing down.

“They can take our charter off the wall but they can’t run from the truth,” Rick Dwyer of Maccan said in a telephone interview Thursday.

“We’re a watchdog to make sure human rights, freedom of speech and democracy are protected. This medicine is so phenomenal.”

Mr. Dwyer, 51, calls the marijuana oil a safe, natural, cancer-curing substance that is being withheld from the public by a corrupt government and powerful pharmaceutical companies.

The Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of the Royal Canadian Legion temporarily suspended the Maccan legion’s charter Wednesday, ousted its executive and intends to appoint a new management committee.

Provincial command chairman Steve Wessel is well aware of the strong support for the oil and its local producer, Rick Simpson, in the rural Cumberland County area outside Amherst but he said the legion name, insignia and buildings cannot be involved.

At issue was the legion members’ hosting and promoting of public meetings regarding the oil and its benefits, despite repeated warnings to cease. A meeting planned for the legion on Wednesday was moved to a nearby ball field.

“The Royal Canadian Legion has a very good reputation in the general public and we don’t want to soil that reputation by making it look like we’re backing something that clearly is against the law at this point,” Mr. Wessel said.

Mr. Dwyer, who is past president of the Maccan legion branch, said the action trampled members’ rights.

“We are the real Canadian legion,” he said.

“I’m so proud of the members for standing up and defending this. We will not stand by and watch the outright genocide of the Canadian people.”

Mr. Dwyer has investigated Mr. Simpson’s claims about the healing powers of his homemade oil, has read affidavits and research and has interviewed patients, many of whom he knows personally.

He said his 82-year-old father with lung cancer began consuming the oil in June after he was given 48 hours to live. He’s still alive.

Mr. Dwyer and other legion members made no secret of their support for Mr. Simpson’s oil and notified the provincial command and local politicians.

“When we see the government doing something wrong, it’s our duty to stand up and say so,” he said.

Mr. Simpson, who is fighting drug charges in court due to his marijuana-growing activities, makes the yellowish grease-like medicine by extracting essential oils from the leaves and buds of marijuana plants.

He gives it away.

“It’s a simple herbal remedy that’s non-addictive” and cures cancer and other diseases, he said, adding patients don’t get high if they take it in small regular doses.

Maccan legion president George Theal wasn’t surprised by the provincial command’s move and hopes the facility can reopen by next week.

Mr. Theal was not as vocal as Mr. Dwyer and didn’t want to wade into the politics of the issue. He reflected mainly on the legion’s importance in the community.

“It’s used for bingo and for having fundraisers when people need assistance,” he said, adding there are no other community halls in the area.

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