ACQUITTAL EXPECTED SEPT 7 by Ted Smith

There are several reasons why we expected Justice Chaperon to stay the charges against myself, and Colby Budda, when she reads her decision on Sept 7 regarding the police seizure from the Johnson St. storefront on Jan 3, 2002.

First, the medical need of cannabis for people had been established with many other court cases. The CBC's mandate fits perfectly with the Medical Marijuana Access Regulations (MMAR), except they require a doctor's recommendation.

Second, at the time of the raid no legal supply of cannabis was available to people with legal licenses to possess and grow the herb. Medical cannabis clubs provided the only available alternative to people faced with pain every day.

Third, there is direct evidence that the club restricted membership to sick people only and that the club's motivation was not profit. Someone who had been cut-off from the CLUB, because he had been caught purchasing for someone else, brought the officer whom began the investigation to the club.
This proved to the judge that we do not sell to just anyone, because everyone would come directly into the store to purchase, and that sales were secondary to the club's mandate. Normal drug dealers do not stop selling to people who buy too much.

While the crown has challenged the fact that the CBC does not require a recommendation from a doctor for a person to join, and that because I am for the most part a healthy person, the medical need for cannabis is not a constitutional issue available to me. The crown admitted several times that if a doctor's recommendation was required to join the club, then prosecution would probably not be occurring.

The judge, however, has stated that while the mandate of the CBC is not as strict as Health Canada or the crown would like, it is acceptable to the courts, especially considering the evidence that the club cuts off members who resell. This decision is anticipated by many members of the cannabis community, including, ironically, Phil Lucas from the VICS. Mr. Lucas has consistently put me down for not requiring doctor's recommendations and generally for so openly challenging the laws against cannabis.

If the crown wins, Mr. Lucas will proclaim that he was right all along and we were never a legitimate medical club. If we win the case, Mr. Lucas will enjoy the ground-breaking decision we have earned and try to pretend that he supported us all along. All of the police raids at the club occurred during the time period when Health Canada handed out licenses but absolutely no Flin Flon pot was available. It is expected that all charges related to these raids will be thrown out.

CANNABIS IS NOT JUST FOR SMOKING, by Gayle Quin

Through researching materials for this article, I may have had a revelation. I was reading some modem research that described myself 28 years earlier when I was bearing my first child. It led me to wonder, (like the chicken and the egg), which comes first - the need for research, or peoples illnesses. I believe our illnesses create the need in this case, so why would people's personal experiences not count as research? I didn't even know I had an illness, I just knew I didn't feel well, and cannabis was the only medicine that made life tolerable and food palatable. Instinct told me what the doctors did not know: cannabis can help soften the pains of life and illness.

 As for myself, it is 34 years since I smoked my first bowl of hash. I used to joke that I was donating my life to science - a lifetime of cannabis use. A lifetime later and the help I have received from this wonderful plant has turned that joke into a reality. I have no intentions of turning back now. The needs of the CBC members are varied and complex, with symptoms generally ranging from chronic pain to nausea, sleep disturbances to muscle stiffness and spasms. The CBC offers a wide range of medicinal products as well as the raw herb. These include several varieties of dietary products, as well as topically applied ointments and oils.
The club offers five kinds of cookies (a sixth is in the works), Budda Balls, which is, in its own right, a meal replacement, and Ryanol, which is infused grape seed oil for those with severally compromised digestive systems. We also supply a salve, massage oil, and a lip balm, all containing the marvelous benefits of cannabis.

Because the CBC is dedicated to the health and well being of our members, our line of ingestible products will continue to expand. One of the reasons for this is that for some conditions - muscle spasms and intestinal disorders- eating cannabis is much more effective than smoking.

The medicinal cookies the club supplies are in great demand, keeping our baker busy 4 days a week. He makes ginger cookies (good for soothing the digestive system), chocolate chip, double chocolate, peanut butter (least amount of sugar and high in protein), oatmeal (with chunks of dehydrated apricots that are high in iron). The recently reintroduced old favourite, peanut butter and chocolate chip, has yet to last a whole day on the shelf.

Budda Balls are carefully designed to be easy on compromised digestive systems such as those with Crohn's disease and diabetics, and are a complete meal replacement. They contain oats, hemp protein, soy protein, coconut, sunflower seeds, almond powder, honey, and cannabis infused olive oil. Another secret ingredient will be revealed in the upcoming issue of the Cannabis Digest.

Ryanol capsules are grape seed oil (good for dissolving bad cholesterol) infused with cannabis and put into Veggie capsules (not gelatin caps which are derived from animal hoofs and skins). A new trend in technology is putting great strains on the leaf supply, which is needed for baking and salves. This would be the introduction of bubble and water screen hash. Cannabis edibles are far superior medicinally, and so the club is in constant need for growers to (please) supply us with good quality leaf, instead of turning it all into combustible products.

Besides edibles, leaves are also necessary for the production of salves and oils. The salve may be used anywhere you would use a first-aide ointment and then some. The base oil is olive oil, and is.solidified with bees wax, both of which have healing properties of their own. You can use it for cuts and scrapes, bums and new tattoos, fungus infections and dermatitis, to eczema and bruises too. Other properties include antibiotic, anti-fungal, and anti-toxicant. The massage oil is not only good for a fabulous body rub, but has taken pain and swelling away from arthritic joints, and is enabling surgeries to be postponed and some have even been cancelled. Cannabis can be used to replace many types of allopathic medicine; from diuretics to anti-depressants - ear oil to throat sprays, and salves to reduce tumours. We are only beginning to learn how to make cannabis-based medicines.

Cannabis extracts have been found to be effective on everything from bacteria and fungi, to herpes virus and staphylococcus that are resistant to penicillin and other antibiotics. You can virtually make medicine from every part of the noble cannabis plant, be it male or female; kola, root, or seed. That one of the planets most precious plants is still so oppressed must be one of our societies' greatest travesties.

The idea that there are no studies done and that more studies need to be done is simply redundant. All we have to do is interact with the rest of the world and share knowledge. There are studies and recipes from Britain from the 1600's, Egypt in the time of Pharaohs, 4th century Jerusalem, to modern day China and Russia. India has never experienced prohibition and does not bear witness to many health problems which plague Western cultures. There are many currently published books and substantia] research available, if required, to prove to any reasonable person that the benefits of cannabis far outway the risks, especially when eaten.

 

Updates, Announcements, Reports, Warnings and Suggestions, by Gayle Quin

On March 14, the International Hempology 101 Society hosted its Fifth Annual Convention at Camosun College. We thank Chris Bennett for opening the day for us, and were very happy his family could attend. Thanks as well to Brian Taylor for driving from Grand Forks to join us. He expressed his happiness at finally being able to attend after being invited before, and hopes to make the trip again next spring.

Mathew Elrod from DRUGSENSE web-page network gave us more information than I could fit into this article. Michael Straumietis, part-owner of Advanced Nutrients gave us the most heart-felt speech I've heard all year, and is now graciously supplying the CBC with products free of charge. The club is distributing these products to members, with only hopes for good enough results that new growers might be able to return a small portion of a successful crop back to the club. The cost of holding the convention was covered by the raffle. All who attended had a great time and a sincere thank you to all who gave their time and help.

The B.C. Civil Liberties Conference, titled Beyond Prohibition; Legal Cannabis in Canada, was held in Vancouver on May 8. It was poorly attended considering the top-notch quality and quantity of speakers, including Vancouver mayor, Larry Campbell.

Part of the speech former police officer Walter McKay has been reprinted here for you. 

One of the club's dearest members. Remy Campbell, age 28, appeared on the front page of the Vancouver Sun, May 12 ,2004 in a two-page article on her remarkable recovery from brain surgery to correct a condition called Dystonia. Remy is able to walk again after spending 10 years with a contorted body and in a wheel chair. Remy has been a Medical Marijuana Activist since she was 18.

On a positive note, charges against a couple with children who were trying to help the club provide high-grade medicine were thrown out this spring. The judge was unable lo prosecute "without putting the administration of justice into disrepute." Our thanks and congratulations to our lawyer /hero Robert Moore-Stewart, Crown did not appeal. Heartfelt thanks to these members of the club who have helped us in many ways.

After months of anxious waiting and many long hours in court, we now get lo wait until September 7 for judge Chaperon to read her final decision for Ted and Colby's court case for the raid on the CBC on Jan.3. 2002 The charges are expected 10 be stayed. As a result of this decision, Scott and Ryan's case will hopefully be stayed also. The judge could see by the constant ebb and flow of people in the court room that Ted and the CBC of C had a great deal of support. Several times the room was full.

Ted and Colby extend their deepest gratitude to all those who have come to court, bought T-shins and worn them proudly, sent their well wishes and positive energy. After the final reading, we will have to wait 30 days to see if the crown will appeal. Thereafter, the CBC of C will petition David Anderson's office to supply the club with a blanket Exemption 56.

 The worse case scenario is that the club may require new members to discuss their use of cannabis with their doctors before joining. The mass submission of applications is going slowly because most doctors are still unwilling to fill in forms without the backup of the College of Physicians and Surgeons. We are hoping the upcoming research project will encourage doctors to sign the application forms for members to possess or grow application forms.

Scott and Ryan's court case has been postponed to Oct.5. Soon after the release of this Cannabis Digest, the Club is going to be initiating a research project. Cannabis is a superior healing herb and some members of the CBC of C are greatly reducing their dependency on pharmaceuticals. Most medications are being reduced, some are being discontinued, and for even more remarkable news, stay tuned to the next issue of the Cannabis Digest.

Please look for upcoming Research Questionnaires and encourage members to fill it out. It is every citizen's right to accept or refuse the treatment or medications our physicians offer us for assistance, depending on what we feel is the correct course of treatment for ourselves. Members and potential members are encouraged to pick up a Research Questionnaire and show their interest in transforming the medical system to one of assisting people attain health. Careful documentation of our states of being is how our doctors decide what is best for us. So why should we not be able to do our own documentation of the medicine we choose, if it's what works for us.

Member Profile: Steve Kindred

I am a 46-year-old male with a rare form of arthritis called Ankylosing Spondylitic. 1 have had this condition since 1 was 20 years old. 1 have exhausted all forms-of traditional anti-inflammatory prescription medications, of which 1 have an allergic reaction to. The allergic reactions come in the form of irritating skin rash or nausea and extreme dizziness. Thus far, ingesting and inhaling marijuana has been the only relief from the severe pain I suffer on an ongoing daily basis. Marijuana helps me to cope with the pain 1 am in; thereby, enabling me to do some light tasks. I would not be able to accomplish these physical activities without its medicinal properties, which 1 believe the contributing factor is a healing agent in the chemical structure of the cannabis plant.

Member Profile: Stefan Chojnacki

My name is Stefan - I'm 45 yrs old. Starting at age 11 I was diagnosed with a rumor on tailbone causing nerve problems in my left leg, bladder, rumors and other complications. By the time 1 was 17 I had over ten surgeries. Over the years I've spent 3-4 years of my life in hospitals. Today I use a wheel chair and scooter. Due to unbearable pain and spasms, I need to use strong medicine/The Valium is for anxiety and spasms- spasms so bad they are similar to a 401b salmon out of water. Well much to my surprise, cannabis was the choice medicine, which alleviated many symptoms. Especially when after 10 minutes my spasms almost stopped completely.
 

Comparing the Cannabis Buyers' Clubs of Canada.

Victoria Chapter and the Vancouver Island Compassion Society, by Steve Kindred

Although there are two clubs in Victoria, each have different mandates, membership requirements, products, procedures and goals. In fact, operating in Victoria and selling cannabis to sick people may be about all the two clubs have in common. Hours of operation for the CBC are Mon- Sat 1 lam to 6pm. Sundays 12:00pm to 6:00pm, open 365 days a year. Hours of operation for VICS are Mon-Fri 12pm to 5:30pm and Saturdays 12:00pm lo 4:00pm. closed on all holidays.
There are several differences in purchase policies between the two clubs. The VICS has a minimum purchase of 1 gram and a minimum purchase of S6 for 3 cookies. The members of VICS do not get any discounts with larger purchases. The CBC let their members purchase as link as S2.00 for herb and S1 .00 for cookies. The members will have a choice between different price ranges and gel price breaks with the larger purchases. The CBC has a small room to test medicine and find quick relief, while the VICS has no safe smoking space. The two clubs also have different requirements for their memberships.

The VICS has an application form that requires their members to list Physicians name, address and phone number, but also asks members if there are taking medications and list their daily drug regiment. The VICS asks you how long you have been taking cannabis and how much you use. The VICS requires that you get a doctors recommendation, and consent to allow the group to ask your physician about other private medical information. There is also a S15 membership fee.

The CBC requires that their members bring in proof of being diagnosed with a permanent, physical disability or disease, and picture I.D. There are no membership fees or any release of information forms. If a person walks in with the proper documents they immediately join, with a 20 minute explanation of the rules.

One of the main differences between the two clubs is their philosophy concerning the fight for the right for healthy people to use cannabis. VIC’s stance is that only medical users should be legalized, while the CBC feels that all cannabis should be legal.

The CBC has formed with the International Hempology 101 Society leading the w-ay educating the general public while the club has provided medicine to the sick. The founder of the CBC and the International Hempology 101 Society, Leon 'Ted' Smith, has been arrested while aggressively challenging the state's authority to prohibit sharing cannabis in public and awaits several constitutional challenges this fall.

The two clubs are financed quite differently. VICS has had funding from the University of California, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and the University of British Columbia. Also the VICS was growing all of the cannabis that was sold through their store in one location in Metchosin until it was busied by police on May 27, 2004 with over 900 plants and tens of thousands of dollars in equipment seized.

 This lab was used to produce totally organic marijuana and experiment with certain strains and products. They claimed to have the best source of organic cannabis in Canada. Other research being done focuses upon pregnant women. Another difference between the two clubs are the products available to their members. The VICS has cookies, and brownies, a vapour spray and a tincture.

The CBC has many products (see pgl), which are basically sold at cost. The CBC has had no private funding or indoor grow' operations directly funded by the group, nor do they claim lo have the only source of organic medicine in Victoria. The CBC has suffered 5 raids that have left them with a large debt load, basically being forced to borrow over S30.000 to continue operating. Both clubs have limited charity available to poor members.

The CBC was forced to slop providing any credit after the second police raid, losing about S5.000 which was never repaid, while VICS can afford a modest credit to members. The VICS claims to be the only non-profit compassion club in Victoria and this society controls the Vancouver Island Therapeutic Cannabis Research Institute which operated the 900 plant grow house that was recently busied.

The founder of VICS, Phil Lucas, is the president, executive director, creditor (he loaned the group over S17.000 in the first year) and has been a controlling partner in the club's grow operations since the beginning.

The founder of the CBC, Leon 'Ted' Smith, started the group while living in a van, gave up growing outdoors several years ago and has never had enough money lo invest in a grow- op. The CBC works according to a mutually agreed-upon, fee for-service contract where everyone who works al the club gets $10/hr. Police raids, thieves, mistakes and low profit margins, the CBC is over S30.000 in debt.

The VICS does not give their address to the general public. VICS has had A locations in A years. The current location is not wheelchair accessible.
The CBC is a very open operation, maintaining the same, wheelchair accessible storefront for over 3 years, after working from the same apartment building for 5 years.
With an active membership of about 1300, the CBC is possibly the second largest club in the country, well behind the BCCCS in Vancouver. VICS has a membership of about 400. The reason the CBC.is about 3 times larger is primarily because of the VICS need to have a doctor recommend cannabis use in writing before becoming a member.

Respect must be given to both groups far risks that are taken everyday the doors are open for business. Some certainly believe that the cannabis movement has gathered such great momentum precisely because there are so many unique, strong-willed individuals trying different public experiments with the use of cannabis in pot-friendly cities and country-sides.

Pot 'club' had police OK. court told.

By Richard Watts, Times Colonist, May 27. 2004.
For years Ted Smith has solo medical marijuana to sick people with the full knowledge- and even advice- of Victoria police, provincial court heard Wednesday. "The police department had been aware of our operation for years," Smith testified. "We've had police officers actually refer people to our club."

Smith, 34, and Colby Budda, 30. are on trial for possession for the purpose of trafficking.

The charges stem from a Jan. 3, 2002, police search of a downtown storefront operation, then known as Ted's Books on Johnson Street.

It was where Smith operated what he testified is commonly- known as a "compassion club," selling marijuana to sick people with chronic illnesses."

Testifying in his own defense, Smith told provincial court Judge Loretta Chaperon he began in 1995 to personally distribute marijuana for use as medicine 10 people suffering from illnesses such as AI.DS and cancer. Smith said he sees distribution of the controlled substance to sick people as a civic duty. "I grew up with the idea that we have, as a society and as individuals, a requirement to protect the most vulnerable people in our society." He has always been a vocal and public advocate for medical marijuana, speaking at City; Hall, holding press conferences. But in 2001, Smith said a police officer told him that police were aware of his operation and advised him to operate it more openly, from a storefront. The store opened on March 20, 2001.

Smith testified that for people to buy marijuana from the club they must show photo ID and some proof of chronic illness. The club has a membership list of more than 800 people. Smith said the marijuana is always sold according to what it costs the club. The club has barely covered its costs and has been a money-losing operation recently. Smith said police left the operation alone except for a few occasions, like September 2001 when officers told him to burn more incense to hide the smell.

But on Jan. 3, 2002, a beat patrol officer entered the store and spied someone rolling a marijuana cigarette. Cost. Ryan O’Neil testified he had been working for six months as a beat officer and hadn't heard of the club's existence. But on the day of the search, a man approached him and told him what was going on in the store, O'Neil said the man was angry and wanted to come along and watch police take it down.

When O’Neil entered the store, one of the people inside was rolling the cigarette.

O’Neil said he asked Smith if he would consent to a search and Smith agreed. Items found included 646 grams of marijuana and about a kilogram of cookies which laboratory analysis revealed contained marijuana. O’Neil said Smith was entirely co-operative and even helped show him around.

A VERDICT WILL BE READ ON SEPT 7

PAIN RELIEF FROM POT FREE OF RISK:  COURT TOLD

Richard Watts, Times Colonist. June 4, 2004
Marijuana is one of the most benign drugs known, with active ingredients that even resemble substances found in mother's milk, provincial court heard Thursday. "There is no doubt in my mind there are very few health risks," said James Geiwitz, an experimental psychologist whose expertise lies in risk analysis and the assessment of research design.

"It's one of the most benevolent drugs we have discovered in nature," Geiwitz told Judge Loretta Chaperon.   Geiwitz said marijuana's benefits as a pain reliever, anti-nausea agent and appetite stimulant are well known. Its appetite- stimulating component even resembles something found in mother's milk, he told the court. Studies with monkeys and rats have indicated their babies die when that marijuana like substance is removed from the mother's milk, he said. Geiwitz testified he has reviewed studies-anywhere from 150 to 200 of them-as well as read panel reviews of studies into the risks and benefits of marijuana. He gave testimony indicating that marijuana used as pain- relief medicine is in a class by itself. Its effects resemble opiates like morphine, but its long-term effects are more benign than Aspirin or ibuprofen, he said. "Marijuana is the only chemical pain reliever you can take chronically, for long periods of time, without significant health risks," he testified.

Gejwjtz. said as far as he can tell the best studies indicate the only risks associated with marijuana are minor lung damage. But he also said he could find no case of lung cancer or emphysema reported even among long-term, heavy users. "There is no evidence of any kind that I could find of health risks associated with the long-term use of marijuana," he said.  "The benefits are great. The risks are very small," said Geiwitz.

The court also heard Thursday from Ted Smith under cross-examination. Smith said he never bothered to apply to the federal government for a distributor's permit for marijuana. Government restrictions would make it impossible to help more than a few people at a time, he said. 
 

Beyond Prohibition; Legal Cannabis in Canada

The following is from a speech made at the BC Civil Liberties Association's conference. held May 8, 2004 by Walter McKay.

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) is a drug-policy reform group created by current and former members of law enforcement who believe that to save lives and lower the roles of disease, crime and addiction, as well as to conserve tax dollars, drug prohibition must end. The present drug policy laudable goals of lessening the incidents of crime, drug addition, juvenile drug use and stemming the flow of illegal drugs into this country have not only failed but have, in fact, only magnified our problems as society continues its "war on drugs". LEAP believes a system of regulation and control is more effective than one of prohibition.

So, if drug prohibition was repealed what would law enforcement and the judicial system look like after three decades of fueling the war on drugs with over a trillion tax dollars (in Canada and the United Stales) and the court system choked with ever increasing prosecutions of non-violent drug violations? This is an important question to consider since, in the U.S., with the war on drugs, their prison population has quadrupled and has made building prisons their fastest growing industry. They have imprisoned more that 2.2 million of their citizens and every year an additional 1.6 million for nonviolent drug offenses-more per capita than any country in the world. The US has 5% of the population of the world but 25% of the world's prisoners. Despite all that, illicit drugs are cheaper, more potent and easier to get than they were 30 years ago.

...the international illicit drug business generates as much as $400 billion in trade annually according to the UN International Drug Control Program. That amounts to 8% of all international trade and is comparable to the annual turnover in textiles...

The numbers in Canada show a similar tale where, in 2002, three in four drug crimes involve marijuana- and approximately 72% of those were in possession, more than half of all drug-related offences are possession of pot (Statistics Canada). Across Canada drug related crime was up over 42%, the highest in 20 years with about 93,000 drug offences in 2002; again with possession of marijuana charges increasing by 80% between 1992 and 2002. Statistics Canada also revealed that in 2002, drug offences accounted for 9% of adult court cases, and 7% of all youth court cases.

And those are not the only direct costs, for an idea of how current drug prohibition translates into prison costs let us look at the US where The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that in 1999, the nation spent 5146,556,000,000 on the Federal, State and Local justice systems. In that year, the United States had 1,875,199 adult jail and prison inmates. Based on this information cost per inmate year was:

-Corrections spending alone: $26,134 per inmate --Corrections, judicial and legal costs: $43, 297 per inmate --Corrections, judicial, legal and police costs: $78,] 54 per inmate (Source: Gifford, Sidra Lea, US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Justice Expenditure and Employment in the United Stales, 1999 (Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, February 2002).

Further, it was found that "prisoner’s sentences for drug offences constitute the largest group of Federal inmates (61%) in 1999, up from 53% in 1990. On September 30, 1999, the date of the latest available data in the Federal Justice Statistics Program, Federal prisons held 63,360 sentenced drug offenders, compared to 30,470 at year end 1990." (Source: Beck, Allen J., PhD, US Department of Justice. Bureau of Justice Statistics, Prisoners in 1999 (Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, August 2000)).

We have tried the facile "Just Say No" campaign and kids are still smoking marijuana; we have tried as hard as we could to arrest our way out of the problem but it is here io stay we must now change tactics. Society has yet to be successful in preventing its citizens from obtaining in-demand products (ever since Eve bit the apple), so the strategy must turn to regulation and education. From a law enforcement perspective, once the burden of the social issue of drug use is lifted from policing shoulders, the time, effort, money and human resources can be utilized to true policing concerns. The very title, "war on drugs" illustrates what is problematic with the law enforcement philosophy i.e. as a military role rather than what it should be, an agency of the community for the community, a large pan of which freely chooses to smoke marijuana.

From the recent scandals that have occurred and are still occurring in large cities and small, we can see that with this failed war on drugs comes the corruption and police abuses that drug enforcement agents and their agencies must constantly be vigilant against. The removal of the war on drugs will assist in furthering the police officer's role as a community leader and problem-solver as opposed to a "warrior" against drugs. With drug enforcement removed as a concern, the majority of the efforts of police officers can turn to problem solving for those in need and who have nowhere else to turn as well as ensuring the smooth operation of the community.

Waller McKay had been a police officer for 12 years when he decided to put his career aside to pursue his studies and his concern for ethics. In 1997, Mr. McKay was a founding member of the non-profit group of officers called "Odd Squad Productions" produced an award winning film for educating youth about drugs use in Vancouver called "Through A Blue Lens". His experience as an officer in East Vancouver has given him a unique perspective on the failed drug war.
 

2nd Annual Art Auction This Fall

In another attempt to cover legal costs from police raids at the CBC, a second silent auction will be held at 826 Johnson Street from Oct. 1 to Nov. 15. The auction will end at the Greater Victoria Public Library on Broughton St. on Mon Nov 15 starting at 2pm and ending at 4:20pm. Many members and supporters of the club are excellent artists and the caliber of work available last year was far beyond expectations.

A slide show presentation will be made featuring work from Christian Bell from 3 to 4pm. Last year over $1000 was raised; with over 30 beautiful art pieces from local artists selling for very reasonable prices. The storefront operation of the CBC has survived 5 police raids, leaving the club with a sizable debt yet strengthening the resolve of the group. Anyone donating art should contact Ted by Sept. 15.

9 Years of Hempology 101

The first Wednesday in September will mark 9 years of weekly Hempology 101 meetings in Victoria. A special night is planned Sept 1, beginning with taking a picture of the group on the front steps of the provincial legislature shortly after 7 pm. The group will then march to Beacon Hill Park for the bulk of the meeting. These gatherings are the largest weekly pot rallies in the world.

Over 100 people join every week throughout the year participating in marches, speeches, contests and public acts of passive civil disobedience. The International Hempology 101 Society has established itself as a powerful means of spreading information, building networks and undermining the negative stereotypes about cannabis consumers which are held by prohibitionists. Meetings are also held every week by campus clubs at Camosun College and the University of Victoria, while the hempology.ca web-page continues to provide current, relevant and accurate information regarding the fight against the prohibition of cannabis. 

Come join us as we celebrate 9 years of educating for change.

Pot’liticle Corner, by Steve Pittner

With the federal election of 2004 over and a minority Liberal government in place, it may be a while before any major changes will be made regarding medical marijuana access.

This situation has forced hundreds of thousands of needy individuals to go to friendly sources or criminals. Health Canada has started to sell their poor quality cannabis from Flin Flon, but the product is inferior to strains provided by existing medical clubs. Bill C-10 (an effort to decriminalize) failed to pass in the House of Commons before the election.

It appears to be a priority issue with this minority government, as Paul Martin announced during the first meeting of his new cabinet. However, decriminalization treats cannabis users like addicts, only slightly restricting punishments to people caught for the first time with small amounts. The new law will allow judges to punish growers and distributors more, while doing nothing for medical users except that the MMAR will be included in one section of the law so the government can begin complying with old court decisions. Some doubt the current government will be able to pass any laws, and given the number of different proposed laws the Liberal government has drafted in the last 10 years, there is every reason to believe that Bill C-10 will fail.

While medical cannabis clubs continue to risk arrest in their activities, Health Canada and the city of Vancouver are working on a research project around safe injection drug sites. An Exemption #56 from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act has been granted to a group doing research about the benefits of having a safe location for intravenous drug users where health officials assist clients in accessing other community services.

We believe that established medical cannabis clubs should be granted similar exemptions until clubs are otherwise licensed and regulated. Ujjal Dosanjh is the new minister responsible for Health Canada. He should be prepared to act on these issues given his experience as BC's Attorney General and Premier with the last NDP government. In an interview with the Victoria News on Aug 20, 1997, Mr. Dosanjh said, "I'm very open to discussion on all the issues, including the decriminalization of marijuana, and even providing heroin to addicts." Given statements like this, we hope the new health minister is ready to dismantle the war on drugs.

Rob Fleming, a Victoria city councillor who has been very supportive of the CBC and has appeared to speak at the 2nd annual Cannabis Convention in 1999, is running for the Victoria-Hillside riding in the next provincial election.

In the Victoria area the Honourable David Anderson, P.C.,M.P was re-elected but was dumped as Minister of Environment. I would encourage everyone in this club and any friends or relatives to write, call, E-mail or fax Mr. Anderson at his constituency, office 970 Blanchard Street Victoria B.C. V8W 2H3 Tel: 363-3600 Fax: 3638422  


Thanks to all our contributors: Ted Smith, Steve Kindred, Gayle Quin, Christiaan Bell, Steve Pittner, Stefan Chojnacki and Richard Watts (reprinted article).