Cannabis Digest - Fall 2015

ISSUE #46

FALL

Nick Diaz P.13

Federal Election Center

Dr. Grinspoon P. 15

Issue Number 46

www.CannabisDigest.ca

Cannabis Digest • Fall 2015

ISSUE # 46 FALL 2015 CREDITS Publisher

Ted Smith <hempo101@gmail.com>

Editor-in-Chief

CONTENTS

Judith Stamps <editor@hempology.ca>

Graphics Editor

Owen Smith <rainbowensmyth@gmail.com>

Vancouvers Licensing Issues................P.03

Dieter MacPherson <dietermacpherson@gmail.com>

Editors Note.............................................P.05

Deborah D. <cannabis.digest.advertising@gmail.com>

Rasta High Times.....................................P.07

Web Editor

Advertisements Contributors

Ted Smith Judith Stamps Owen Smith Jamie Shaw Chris Clay Dean Schwind Russel Barth Ras Kahleb (Jamaica) December Kennedy (Colorado) Debbie Stultz-Giffin Jerry Golick Patrick Dewels (Belgium) Jason Heit

Cover by Georgia Toons

For editorial questions, letters, or information on submitting: <editor@hempology.ca>

Human Rights Complaint........................P.09 Into the Breach - Part 1............................P.11 Nick Diaz Banned.....................................P.13 Interview with Dr. Grinspoon..................P.15 Cannabis and Child Welfare....................P.17 Canada’s Political Parties..............CENTER A Story of Struggle for Life.....................P.21 The Battle of WInnipeg...........................P.25 Maritimers Against Prohibition..............P.27 Why Doctors will Love Cannabis............P.33 Fragmentation in Cannabis Culture........P.35 Hempology Turns 20 Years Old..............P.38 Crossword / Comics.................................P.41

826 Johnson Street V8W 1N3 Phone: 250-381-4220 www.hempology.ca www.cannabisdigest.ca

The Cannabis Digest will not be held responsible for claims made within the pages of the newspaper, nor those made by advertisers. We do not suggest or condone illegal activities, and urge readers to research their country’s laws, and/ or talk to their doctors, before engaging in any activities that could be deemed as illegal or dangerous to one’s health.

Issue Number 46

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Cannabis Dispensaries Face Regulations

3

Vancouver Licensing System Creates Many Issues

Jamie Shaw When Ted Smith asked me to write this, I don’t think he knew how long it would be. Then he asked me to include some of the history around the Canadian Association of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries... I have tried to keep it brief, and cover as many of the larger issues as I can, but as any reader of this publication knows, the cannabis world is a big one, it’s history is a long one, and the list of issues issues it intersects is getting longer every day. Here then, is a very brief history of CAMCD, and an over view of some of my thoughts on Vancouver’s Dispensary Regulations.

In 2011, with no sign of any move to regulate dispensaries in Canada, ten of the then thirty dispensaries in Canada got together, and along with the UBC SEED Project, received a grant from the Peter Wall Solutions Initiative to develop standards for the medical cannabis dispensary industry. With the express aim to craft standards for those dispensaries that were interested in a patient-centred approach to cannabis access, the CAMCD Certification Program was created. This intensive certification process ensures that certified dispensaries adhere to 18 Required Organizational Practices, and 52 other Standards around things like security, privacy, safety, infection control, cleanliness. CAMCD Certification assures patients that they are accessing one of the best patient-focused medical dispensaries in the country that contributes in significant ways to their communities.

In 2014, CAMCD was one of the only organizations continuing to advocate for dispensaries, and CAMCD dispensaries were bearing a large portion of cannabis court costs, either through their own various cas-

es, those of staff and members come down, he is likely only they took on, and others they Here are some of the larger referring to the $30, 000 fee contributed financially to. issues: for retail licenses, and we won’t likely see a drop in the compasDespite the continued growth The fees: sion club license fee. Perhaps a of those willing to commit civil Having two tiers of license more important distinction is disobedience grew in the face of dispensaries is a great start, that these licenses do not reof the Health Canada’s MMPR however, it is my feeling that quire that any sort of medical regulations, there wasn’t a sin- there really should have been a documentation be obtained, a gle level of government willing third. fact many seem to have missed. to take on protecting patients.

While the regulations say nothWhile some may argue that Compassion Club License: ing explicit about medical doccannabis should be subject only Much has been made of the uments, by requiring CAMCD to the free market, with no oth- significantly lower fee for this Trade Membership of one class er regulation, this does not take class of license. First, this does on not the other, they are iminto account those that a) can’t not take into account the cost plicitly stating one is medical, financially afford free market of providing other health ser- and one is not. prices, b) can’t physically afford vices, a requirement of the lito use medicine produced by cense. These services are not It is also important to realsomeone whose main concern is cheap, and to see the city en- ize that implementing a promoving product in a free mar- courage dispensaries to invest gram like this does cost money. ket, or c) need specific medical in their members’ health is While some of the oldest disinformation about their condi- definitely a win for patients. pensaries in town can point to tions or strains.

In addition, the requirement to reduced policing and enforcebe a CAMCD Trade Member ment costs associated with their operations, it only takes one or two ‘bad seeds’ to drive enforcement costs up, and negate those benefits.

In response to the growth of dispensaries, and moved earlier this year to create a Trade Membership Program as a preliminary step to certification. This requires a dispensary meet the 18 Required Organizational Practices, and allow them to benefit from the resources available to CAMCD dispensaries. More information around either the certification program, the trade membership program, or CAMCD itself can be found at www.camcd.ca

means that these dispensaries are dealing with patients’ medical information with all the additional security and training that entails, and are following all health and safety and labour standards. The downside is that without a third class of license for medical dispensaries that aren’t strictly speaking compassion clubs, the reputable dispensaries in this group now need to change their operations to fit either one class or the other.

In response to the lack of government action on the federal and provincial levels, CAMCD focused on the municipal level in Vancouver and Victoria. While the lobbying paid off, and it was in many ways a victory, what we ended up with in Vancouver is a bit of a mixed bag.

Retail licence: the $30,000 fee is expensive, full stop. The fact is, these stores will be bearing he brunt of the implementation costs. It is also a fact that licensing fees are required by law to be revenue neutral. When Councillor Kerry Jang says these fees will

Distance to each other: On the face of it, this seems to artificially limit market competition, and it probably does.

There is also a benefit here.

When San Fransisco first started regulating dispensaries, they were limited to certain sections of town. It only took a year or two for the problem with this to arise: while some neighbourhoods were saturated with dispensaries, others had none, meaning patients in those areas were forced to travel to access medicine. Anyone familiar with dispensaries can see right away the problem this causes for many of the people they serve, and San Fransisco changed this requirement as they became aware of it.

The distance to each other requirement does in fact ensure that most neighbourhoods in the city are likely to see a local dispensary. Ultimately, this may be good for patients.

Distance to schools and community centres: One of the major issues with this requirement is that it confuses medical and recreational dispensaries. The BC Compassion Club, with its strict membership requirements and low profile in no way encourages kids to use cannabis. In fact, when the students come over for tours with their class, they are taught to respect cannabis

Cannabis Digest • Fall 2015 as medicine, and get to meet the people who benefit from it.

This is in direct contrast to a store with colourful advertising and signage geared to the recreational crowd. Regardless of the fact that almost all recreational use can have therapeutic benefits, the continual lumping together of medical and recreational use does a disservice to those establishments that focus on medical need and the patients that rely on them.

This requirement also ignores one of the greatest uses of cannabis: opioid replacement. While most who use cannabis this way are doing so to reduce the amount of prescription opiates, there are also many who use it to help break their addiction to street drugs.

Eden Medicinal Society runs an opiate replacement program out of a location that will likely be forced to move due to its proximity to Carnegie Centre, a community centre that serves the very same population Eden does.

Minors: While the regulations do not prohibit minors with medical need from being served by dispensaries, it does prohibit them from being on site. Most minors who use cannabis medically have parents, guardians, or caregivers that can pick up their medicine for them, so this isn’t that big a workaround for

them. Where it becomes an issue is with adults. Single parents, guardians, or grandparents often bring their children to the dispensary with them. Having to find and pay for a babysitter just so they can pick up medicine is an unfair burden that accomplishes little.

ruling in R. v Smith did not say that dispensaries were allowed to sell edibles, nor did it say that cities were not allowed to restrict their sale. What it did say was that the federal government acted contrary to the constitution when it excluded them from Health Canada regulations. Further, it did not

“city councillors actually understand this issue better than the regulations reflect” So why is the City of Vancouver insisting on these last two points? My guess is that it is political. City councillors and staff have put themselves in the line of fire on this issue, in front of a Conservative government that has been rabidly anti-cannabis, and have consistently used the ‘think of the children’ argument.

It is my opinion (only) that city councillors actually understand this issue better than the regulations reflect, and that these moves were made to provide a political shield in an area they knew would come under attack.

say there could be no limits on the type of edibles offered, and in fact, the City of Vancouver didn’t ban edibles completely. Dispensaries can still offer cooking oils, butters, tinctures, capsules, and simple infusions, a much wider range than currently on offer from Health Canada Licensed Producers.

Restriction on Edibles: This is one of the biggest issues with these regulations, and there has been a lot of confusion around it. Those that say the City of Vancouver are ignoring the Supreme Court ruling on edibles are missing several important points. The

The unfortunate truth in this is that the City of Vancouver simply does not have the resources to deal effectively with the concerns raised by Coastal Health on the edible issue.

Neither Colorado nor Washington, with significantly more resources, have been able to ad-

The down side of this of course is that it has the same effect that the MMPR had on growers: it takes those with all knowledge and experience with edibles out of the equation.

equately address edible regulations to this point. Further, it is a big job, a huge job, and ultimately, not the city’s job. This is an area where edible producers can organize to great effect, and propose solutions that they would like to see and think are reasonable.

This is especially timely now because the good news in all of this is that none of these regulations are written in stone.

Not only are there processes for changing bylaws in the future, we may be looking at a very different scenario shortly. Earlier, when I said Vancouver deciding to regulate dispensaries was a win in many ways, it was with the understanding that under a Stephen Harper Conservative Government, this was better than we had any right to expect. Under Justin Trudeau, Thomas Mulcair, or even Elizabeth May, we will be looking a federal government finally willing to do something about this issue, and I have no doubt that Vancouver Bylaws will change accordingly.

Want to make a difference?

Ask your candidate where they stand on cannabis, on medical cannabis, on recreational cannabis, and on dispensaries. And vote.

Issue Number 46

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5

EDITORS NOTE: Autumn Leaves

Judith Stamps

H

ere we are in the season of Home Canning, Harvest festivals, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and the dreaded Federal Election, a festival of sorts that we add once every four years. It isn’t an enjoyable festival, though, and it is hardly an ancient tradition. On some days it is so tedious, so juvenile, and so uncharitable that I am moved to imagine alternatives.

We might be better off appointing an enlightened monarch, for example, something like a secular pope, say for a ten-year term. Then we could spend our time laboring happily in the fields organized by enlightened policy making. But there is the problem of supply. Where do we find such a monarch? They appear to have been back or-

dered, or some such thing, for eons. The ancient world may have had some enlightened kings or queens. There was Matilda of Scotland back in the 12th century, of course, known for her charity. Perhaps if we appointed Gayle Quin as monarch for the next decade we’d see progress: no more dull debates, no more staring at polls, and no more horse races masquerading as politics. And she’d probably legalize cannabis.

Or maybe we could go seriously local, and create Free Zones organized and run by neighbourhood groups. They could license and organize the dispensaries, foster community gardens, and have some real discussions on the basics: food, housing, and cannabis. There is the possibility of creating The Independent Republic of BC. We never get the government that we vote for around here anyway. Or we could have the Independent Province of Vancouver Island. There is actually a group working on that project. I’ve always like the idea of Cascadia, a fusion of areas of the Pacific Northwest: BC, Washington State, and Oregon.

From the cultural standpoint

this grouping makes more sense than the one we have, spanning the 49th parallel. And just think. The others have already legalized. Alternatively, maybe we should go really big, and have an earth-sized equivalent of the United Federation of Planets, based on Star Trek philosophy.

There is no doubt that the Federation’s ultra-rationalist, Data, would end prohibition.

Short of such solutions, at least for now, we are stuck trying to choose the best of the not so great. This fact leads to the doldrums—dead zones of the mind, far more scarey than anything offered by the spirit of Halloween. One way to fight the election doldrums and to

plan for the future is to read and share the Cannabis Digest.

Owen Smith will charm you with his stories—soon to become legends—of fighting and subduing the Canadian prohibition dragon, currently under the protection of the Conservative Party of Canada. Ted Smith will recount his rise from Ontario kid-hood to BC superactivist. I’ll ramble on about politics and such. Others will join, each with a unique story to tell. With all of your help, we can remain on the forefront of progressive change in Canada.

Many thanks to our readers; don’t forget, we would love to hear from you.

Editor@Hempology.ca

6

Cannabis Digest • Fall 2015

PUBLISHERS NOTE: The Critical Moment

Ted Smith

fter years of hard work by A many people, the Cannabis Digest is growing by

leaps and bounds. Its potential, though, is still much greater.

With so much happening in the cannabis scene, the limits seem boundless.

For dedicated readers, the 12page growth spurt we have just experienced will be obvious and impressive. Driven by new advertisers, this growth creates new revenue that will actually be enough to help pay me a wage of $500 per month, give our bookkeeper some money, and hire a new webmaster! This is a huge breakthrough for our organization and will catapult us to the next phase of our development.

Until now the paper was just able to pay for itself, but that did not come easy.

Initially in 2003 the paper was a single photocopy folded in half to create 4 pages. It was paid for almost entirely by donations from the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club. At the time, the VCBC had just survived 4 police raids and the trials were being delayed pending the outcome of the Clay/Caine/Malmo-Levine case that was before the Supreme Court of Canada.

While we used the paper to help promote the businesses that supported us, the advertising barely generated any revenue for years.

In fact, it was not until Owen Smith was arrested while mak-

ing products for the VCBC that we decided to expand the newsletter into a newspaper. The Cannabis Culture magazine had stopped printing, and there was a desperate need for a national publication that could support patients. With new federal regulations, illegal dispensaries operating throughout the country, interesting cannabis products being developed, several complex court cases proceeding and new medical discoveries being announced, there was no lack of information to share.

vative government is able to get re-elected, by some illegal, sleazy act or through complete voter apathy. Threatening letters were sent out by Health Canada in September to several dispensaries and medical cannabis web-sites, stating that new laws passed last year could see fines of up to $5,000,000 for any organization or individual advertising the sale of cannabis. While it seems this threat has been merely political grandstanding during an election, there is a fear that if they retain power, the Harper mob Building the newspaper to ex- will ramp up the war on dispenplain Owen’s court case has been saries. a critical component of our success. The successful conclusion Of course, if the Cons do get of his case is no doubt part of the re-elected, the work of the Canreason so many want to be part nabis Digest will be even more of our team, either as advertis- important, for we can expect ers or writers. We have not only more resources to be thrown been able to change Canadian against the cannabis culture. law, but we have redefined how Otherwise if the other parties cannabis is used as a medicine gain control we can help orgain this country, and brought dis- nize the fight for medical accespensaries to the limelight as the sibility, responsible policies and premier patient service. reasonable taxes Either way, with each passing season the Of course, though, much work Cannabis Digest’s position in remains. Despite the advance- the cannabis scene in Canada is ments we have made as a com- more solid. munity, the full potential of this plant has yet to be realized. The If you are a regular reader of Cannabis Digest intends upon the printed newspaper, you may being one of the best sources be happy to know that we pubof information on this subject.

Indeed, we intend upon being a driving force for sane cannabis policies around the world.

Naturally, our roots remain in Victoria and with the patients that use dispensaries, but now that we are established there is a lot of room to grow. Certainly the proliferation of dispensaries in Vancouver and across the country has helped our newspaper to spread far and wide, giving us a very solid base upon which to build our network. As more Canadian cities appear ready to consider regulations for dispensaries similar to the ones being formed in Vancouver and Victoria, the newspaper’s future seems secure.

Unless of course the Conser-

lish several blogs a week on-line.

As we grow our on-line presence will certainly improve, drawing in new writers, advertisers and readers. Since we have focused on creating a unique print product, our web sites have never been our primary source of information. However, as the world moves into the digital age we too will evolve and our increased presence on the internet will be instrumental as we launch new campaigns, products and court challenges.

Whether you are a Cannabis Digest reader, advertiser, writer or all of the above, you have a chance to participate in a critical and exciting moment in the cannabis culture. We are collectively witnessing a massive change in the way Western society deals with cannabis, and by working together through sharing information we become a strong unit in the struggle for sane policies.

Pass the paper around with a joint the next time your friends visit and you will see how easy it is to help make the world a better place with cannabis.

Thank you very very much to everyone who has helped our paper grow into an institution.

Together we shall create a bright cannabis future.

Issue Number 46

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Rasta and High Times The Jamaican World Cannabis Cup

Ras Iyah V, one US dollar from every ticket sold by High Times will be donated to the Rastafari Trust Fund and additional 20 percent of the overall profit will go to a specific local based Rastafari organization. This all means that half of the financial proceeds earned by Rastafari In Inity at the Jamaica World Cannabis Cup will go back into the Rastafari community and as according to Chairman Ras Iyah Ras Kahleb V “the other 50 percent will stay within InI (us) within Rastafari In Inity” (press release stateince the passing of the ment made by Ras Iyah V on Ganja Bill in Jamaica new Sept. 22nd, 2015 at the UWI). opportunities are being em- Not bad at all! barked upon by ganja farmers and leaders of the Rastafari community. Recently, an elder from the Nyahbinghi Mansion who is the Chairman of the Westmoreland Hemp and Ganja Farmers Association is Chairing both the Rastafari In Inity (a new community based organization) and the Rastafari Rootz Fest, which together will be hosting Jamaica’s first World Cannabis Cup in association with High Times. According to the Chair, Ras Iyah V, during a recent press release held at the University of the West Indies on the 22nd of September, “the Rastafari Rootz Fest is already Although High Times will seeking to become an annual definitely be keeping its canevent just like the Jazz Fest and nabis cup in Jamaica especially Sun Fest”. As a licensed event, since the green light has already Ras Iyah V pointed out that un- been given, there are some conlike other fests in Jamaica the cerns. Some of these concerns Rastafari Roots Fest will be the are actually coming from out first national event that is ac- of the international ganja comtually owned by the Rastafari munity and relates to how Jacommunity. In his press release maica and the Jamaican tradistatement Ras Iyah V also high- tional farmers will benefit from lighted how pertinent it was for such an event. One concern that the Rastafari community to es- a Canadian friend of mine has tablish a better economic base is that many of the grass root or foundation in order to fulfill farmers who really grow the orcommunity goals and ideas. ganic high grade ganja (some

S

In my own opinion it would have been very difficult for Ras Iyah V and others to conceptualize a Rastafari In Inity or a Rastafari Rootz Fest without first considering how the Rastafari community in Jamaica would benefit. In terms of community benefits and profit sharing another community leader and a priest of the Nyahbinghi Mansion, Ras IvI, confirmed at the press release that several booths will be given to entities within the Rastafari community and 30 percent of the profit earned by the Rastafari In Inity organization from hosting the Jamaica World Cannabis Cup will be donated to the Rastafari Movement (press release statement made by Priest IvI on Sept. 22nd, 2015 at the UWI). According to

of whom he personally knows) will not have the opportunity to enter the cup because they don’t even know about it, nor are they a part of any ganja parish association! Other concerns are with the lack of international promo-

tion of the event of which High Times is responsible for. Such concerns are relevant and do certainly speak to the lack of local and international promotion of Jamaica’s first cannabis cup hosted by Rastafari Rootz Fest.

Additionally there are some concerns pertaining to sponsorship as there seem to be little financial support given to both High Times and the Rastafari Rootz Fest. One other person even declared to me that their $25,000 Canadian as possible sponsorship money for the cannabis cup was totally ignored

by High Times. But what is in-

teresting is that during a recent conversation in Negril with a representative from High Times I remember that representative stating how the budget for the Jamaica World Cannabis Cup was such a “low budget”. I also remember Ras Iyah V mentioning how none of the possible local sponsors have come on board yet. Unfortunately there is a clear and close relationship between the lack of promotion of the Jamaica World Cannabis Cup, both at the national and international level, and lack of sponsorship! Hopefully more

information from the press release will become quickly available to the regional and international community.

So how can one enter the Jamaica World Cannabis Cup?

7

This is a question that many have been asking for months now without much of an answer from organizers. However, it is very unfortunate that not much can be done in Jamaica without the highest levels of bureaucracy. In terms of the prerequisite for entry to the cannabis cup Rastafari attorney-at-law Marcus Goffe noted that anyone wishing to enter the Jamaica World Cannabis Cup must have been a Jamaican resident for at least five years. Furthermore such proof of residence must be proven with a utility bill, etc.

In further laying down some ground rules Goffe stated how Jamaican farmers must enter the cannabis cup through their local parish ganja associations or through the various Rastafari Mansions and Organizations.

An option is also available for those farmers who have not yet joined ganja parish associations under non-territorial claims.

With reference to the different competitions there will only be four categories. These four categories are sativa, indica, hybrid and hash (including oils).

Since the press release another back lash is already coming from grass root farmers in Jamaica who would like to enter the cannabis cup but who does not want their true identity or their residence known. Perhaps these are unlicensed ganja farmers who really grow abundantly for commercial purposes and who would like their legal names and residence to remain unknown for practical reasons. Yet, these are expert ganja farmers in Jamaica who can potentially bring a higher grade ganja to the cup and thus making the cup more interesting and more worth it.

What is a High Times ganja cup without high grade ganja?

And though persons from the international community may feel bad that they are being barred from representing their strains at the Jamaica World Cannabis Cup, attorney Marcus Goffe is simply saying “no foreign competition” allowed.

So it becomes even more and more clear to me that the concept of a Jamaica World Cannabis Cup actually surrounds local competition only, but aside this concept Goffe seems to have rational reasons why there shall be no foreign competition.

According to Goffe during his press release statement at UWI, national development under a regulated ganja industry is important and such an event must only be in support of Jamaicans

Cannabis Digest • Fall 2015

6 To help with local sponsorship please contact Chairman of Rastafari In Inity (Rastafari Rootz who will be the only winners Fest) Ras Iyah V at: 1-876-404of the Jamaica World Cannabis 9776 or 1-876-799-7577 Cup. Evidently the idea of any outside influence or rather domination of the Jamaica World Cannabis Cup has been totally undermined by organizers.

For further information about the Jamaica World Cannabis Cup held in Negril please visit the High Times website at www.hightimes.com.

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Issue Number 46

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Hum an Rights Com pl aint

9

Why I Filed A $10 Million Dollar Lawsuit Against The Mayor And City Of Ottawa on Twitter, asking him to come down to BuzzOn and apologize to her. He has me blocked, of course, because I had previously denounced him as a villain for his anti-scientific views on safeinjection sites, so I was only able to reach the coward by email.

Russell Barth

n the morning of April O 30th, 2015, I went through my usual routine of scrolling

After some back and forth with local media, I eventually sent this email to the Mayor and cc’d every member of city council and many in the local media.

Jim,

By voicing the opinion that through my Facebook newsfeed medical marijuana users should to see what my friends had posted over the past 24 hours, and as on most mornings, I was dismayed by most of what I read. The good news that morning was that a new marijuana vapour lounge called BuzzOn had opened in the Ottawa neighbourhood of Vanier. The bad news was that our foppish ribbon-cutter of a Mayor had publicly denounced it.

Loathe as I am to defend anything the cur Jim Watson does or says, I must give him credit for this much, at least: he was in a media scrum at City Hall, he was asked a question, and he answered it honestly. What he said was stupid and wrong, but at least he was honest about it.

In her article titled “Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson weighs in on vapour lounge (http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/0430watson)”, Ottawa Citizen reporter Joanne Chianello quoted Mayor Watson as saying: “If someone has a medical license for marijuana, then please go and use that product on your property in your own house, but please don’t bring it into an establishment where other people can be affected by the second-hand smoke.” When my wife awoke hours later, and I told her of this, she immediately began to cry.

(Russell with his Human Rights Complaint) stay home, you have publicly insulted and discriminated against tens of thousands of Canadians, many of them Veterans. Your comments were a violation of our mobility rights, stigmatizing doctor-prescribed, federally licensed sick people and their federally licensed suppliers. This cannot go unchallenged.

If you do not issue a formal public apology by the end of this week, I will have no choice but to file a Human Rights complaint the likes of which this city has never seen: a case that will cost the citizens of this city over My initial reflex, like that of $100,000 simply to defend, no any good husband, was to storm matter what the outcome might into Watson’s office and give him be. a good “talking to” for making I followed up the next day with my wife cry. But since this is not a phone call to make sure the the 1700’s and I can’t challenge him to a public duel, I was left Mayor had received it. Neither to consider what legal and non- the email or phone call got any reply. violent options were available.

By the 20th, we’d had enough, and filed the complaint, issuing the following press release the next day: On May 20, 2015, medical marijuana user and longtime advocate Russell Barth filed a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal against Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson. The complaint comes after Watson made no response to Barth’s May On May 4th, my wife Chris- 11th request for an apology for tine Lowe goaded the Mayor his April 29th comments, which Initially I was reluctant to go to BuzzOn, as I didn’t expect it to last more than a week in this cultural backwater, and have zero desire to deal with or even see an Ottawa Police officer. But the Mayor’s comments basically made it so that I had no choice but to go there as often as I could for as long as I could.

Barth and his wife Christine only this avenue. The remedy we Lowe consider discriminatory. requested was 1) for the Mayor to issue a public apology, or 2) On the 29th of April, when Pay $10 million to the 40,000+ asked his opinion about medical licensed medical users in Canada marijuana users having a place to who he had insulted. congregate, the mayor said: “If someone has a medical license In June, the OHRC got back to for marijuana, then please go and us, asking us to clarify a thing or use that product on your proper- two, and we did so as quickly as ty in your own house, but please we could. On the 24th of July, don’t bring it into an establish- the OHRC got back to us - and ment where other people can the city - to say that the combe affected by the second-hand plaint was moving forward, and smoke.” that the Mayor and City had until September 23rd to respond to “To us, the Mayor basically the complaint. I will then have told over 40,000 Canadians - a chance to respond to their remany of them veterans - to just sponse, they will then be asked to respond again (to my response to their response), and eventually the OHRC will make a decision as to whether or not an arbitration meeting will be held. The fact that it has even moved past the first phase is heartening, because it means they are taking it seriously.

stay home,” said Barth. “That they are not welcome in polite society or in this city. This adds to the stigma that marijuana users face daily in this country. For the Mayor of the nation’s capital to stigmatize people like this is unacceptable.”

Barth emailed the Mayor’s office on May 11th, and followed up with a call on the 12th, giving Watson until May 15th to issue a public apology. “He didn’t have to name anyone specific,” said Barth. “He just needed to issue a public statement retracting the comments and apologizing for them.”

Barth has named the Mayor and the City Of Ottawa in the complaint, and is seeking $10 million as a remedy, which would be split up amongst the approximately 40,000 licensed medical marijuana users across Canada about $250 per person.

Since it was about Marijuana, we fully expected the OHRC to dismiss the complaint, but we felt we had to do something. If I were a rich man, I wouldn’t hesitate to hire the most bloodthirsty wolverine of a lawyer on the continent, point him (or her) at Ottawa City Hall, and whisper into their ear through gritted teeth: “No quarter. No prisoners.” But being a poor man, I was left with

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson is now in the untenable position of having to choose between a) publicly apologizing to tens of thousands of marijuana users, or b) spending untold tens of thousands of taxpayers’ dollars to pay lawyers to fight me in a Human Rights hearing.

I expect the Mayor’s lawyers (knowing that they can drag this out for years and bill Ottawa taxpayers for countless hours) have told him to fight this complaint every step of the way, instead of just being a sensible human and apologizing for insulting and stigmatizing sick people.

If my experience in 2008 and 2009 (wherein I filed a complaint against the Ontario Government for failing to regulate marijuana the way they are constitutionally-mandated to) is any indication, I expect the Mayor’s lawyers’ response on the 23rd to be the typical “data dump: A large amount of studies and reports about how terrible second hand tobacco smoke is, coupled with a canoe-ful of debunked“ science,” explaining how marijuana causes brain damage and cancer and mental illness and so on. The tobacco data can be dismissed as not relevant to this case, and the “pot is bad” data can easily be countered with more recent and coherent studies showing marijuana’s safety and efficacy.

I look forward to the day - likely twelve to twenty months from now - when I will get to sit in a conference room in downtown Ottawa, across from the Mayor himself, and tell him what I really think of him. It promises to be tasty.

Cannabis Digest â&#x20AC;˘ Fall 2015

Issue Number 46

www.CannabisDigest.ca

Into the Breach - Part 1

11

Chris Clay tells the story of how he began his work as a cannabis advocate ing consciousness-raising documentaries like Koyaanisqatsi and Manufacturing Consent) my worldview transformed during a single season and I entered my second year of studies in Toronto questioning everything.

My second year at Ryerson was much less intensive, so I spent increasing amounts of time in libraries to see what I could find

was relatively harmless, but that it had a number of medicinal properties. Indeed, it confirmed what I had suspected, since I found it very helpful with my ADHD. I was especially impressed by the findings of the “Le Dain Commission of Inquiry into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs” when I stumbled upon its final report in the school library.

It’s now twenty years since I was arrested for selling cannabis and, to my surprise and joy, I’m selling it again. There are huge cracks in the walls of prohibition, and I’m heading into the breach to help with the final push. out about marijuana. Although I had thoroughly enjoyed my Origins summer awakening, in the back My story begins with the of my mind I was concerned that Great Canadian Hemporium I may have caused some serious which, ultimately, grew out of damage to my mind and body. my own fears and experiments Over the years, I had heard all surrounding pot. In 1992, at kinds of scare stories related to age 21, I spent a summer in cannabis use including immune P.E.I. studying photography as system suppression, cancer risks, part of an intensive, 12-week infertility, and chromosome abprogram administered by Ry- normalities. In particular, Dr. erson University. Sixteen of us Gabriel Nahas, Nancy Reagan’s were selected to live in cabins by “Just Say No” scientist, had pubthe ocean, shooting photos us- lished hundreds of now-discreding old-fashioned 4x5 cameras ited articles in scientific jourwhile taking advantage of mod- nals, making outrageous claims ern, on-site darkrooms. Soon about marijuana that resulted in after we arrived, pot began ar- ominous newspaper headlines riving by courier as one of the around the world. students introduced the rest of us to the wonders of cannabis.

I quickly discovered a vast Combined with the school’s im- amount of research on cannapressive film selection (featur- bis that suggested it not only

Around the time of my birth, a Canadian royal commission had spent 3 years and $3.5 million, exhaustively examining cannabis prohibition. The report concluded that “the costs to a significant number of individuals, the majority of whom are young people, and to society generally, of a policy of prohibition of simple possession are not justified by the potential for harm of cannabis and the additional influence which such a policy is likely to have upon perception of harm, demand and availability. We, therefore, recommend the repeal of the prohibition against the simple possession of cannabis.” One of the commissioners, criminologist Marie-Andree Bertrand, went even further – in a minority view, she

Chris Clay

“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.”

- William Shakespeare I never even entertained the thought of failure, but there it was – with the Supreme Court ruling, the last, best hope for ending cannabis prohibition in decades had collapsed, and I was spent.

wrote that prohibition is “expensive and ineffective,” and recommended that the federal government “immediately initiate discussions with the provincial governments to have the sale and use of cannabis placed under controls similar to those governing the sale and use of alcohol.”

I’m somewhat obsessive by nature, and as my anger grew at the injustices of prohibition, I began copying and filing the information I was gathering. By the following spring, I had already filled a small filing cabinet full of studies and was getting more and more fired up. I also bought a copy of Jack Herer’s classic book, The Emperor Wears No Clothes (which was then banned in Canada) from the Mystic Bookshop in London, Ontario. Then, two things happened that sealed my fate.

First, a poster in downtown Toronto caught my eye... Featuring a Canadian flag with a pot leaf in the middle, it announced an upcoming “hemp fest” at a local pub. Intrigued, I attended the event and an activist, Adrian Plant, handed me a photocopied list of suppliers for various cannabis-related products – hemp fabric, hemp seeds, books and more. Soon afterwards, I caught a brief news clip on the radio that announced a new store in Texas called “Legal Marijuana: The Hemp Store.” Before long, I was ordering my first products and as soon as school ended, I booked a booth at the Gibraltar Trade Centre in my hometown of London, Ontario.

Canada’s First Hemp Store “If you are the big tree, we are the small axe. Ready to cut you down, cut you down.” - Bob Marley The flea market booth grew exponentially and, a month later,

Cannabis Digest • Fall 2015 my booth at Lollapalooza was the busiest by far; it was time for a store. On July 24, 1993, the Great Canadian Hemporium opened its doors. Attracting national media attention the day after opening, the shop grew quickly. At the time, industrial hemp, medicinal cannabis and recreational marijuana were all illegal, all lumped together under the same draconian laws, and my shop reflected this. It carried a full range of cannabisrelated products (many of which were technically illegal) and evolved to include a small cannabis history museum.

In 1994, I added viable seeds to our inventory. Meanwhile, knowing I was continually pushing the boundaries, I met with Osgoode Hall law professor Alan Young and star Toronto lawyer Paul Burstein to discuss the possibility of a constitutional challenge if I was ever charged at some point... It turns out I wouldn’t have to wait long.

will be redeemable for ¼ ounce of marijuana once prohibition ends. Lawyers Paul and Alan donated countless hours of their time, as most of the funds were needed to fly in expert witnesses from across North America, including Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Lester Grinspoon; two Le Dain Commissioners, Dr. Heinz Lehmann and Marie-Andree Bertrand; SFU criminologist Neil Boyd; and many more.

Harper government for change was obviously pointless. I retreated into a quiet life as a web developer, working from a home office and supporting environmental groups when I could. I had donated websites to a number of non-profit societies over the years, but my years as an activist seemed over.

ticals to manage anxiety, none of which worked without causing unacceptable side effects.

Meanwhile, I had less and less social contact with people who were outside of my small circle of friends and family.

I was aware that some people found cannabis helpful with anxiety, so occasionally I would For ten years, I rarely smoked try a new variety in the hopes it cannabis – as ever, I found it would help. Last fall, on a rare helped my ADHD, but without visit to the Vancouver Island Compassion Society (VICS) in Victoria, I noticed a strain on the board named CBD Rene.

It’s a cross between Rene and Cannatonic, developed in Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley

by House of the Great Gardener.

Curious about CBD, I bought a small sample and knew immediately I was on to something.

The 1:1 ratio of THC:CBD felt nothing like any medication, cannabis or otherwise, I had used before, and it completely changed my life. A series of awakenings led me, ultimately, to abandon my career, venture out in the world again, and open another cannabis store.

By early 1995, the next step seemed obvious. To save growers the time and hassle of starting and sexing seedlings, I Next time: CBD explorations would sell clones, or cuttings. and Warmland Medicinal CanClone sales commenced on May nabis Centre.

17, and four hours later I found myself in jail and the constituAfter several weeks of hear- fail it worsened my anxiety. I tional challenge was underway. ings, Justice John McCart ruled tried all manner of pharmaceuthat marijuana was relatively I was released on bail after the safe compared to alcohol and weekend, and was devastated to tobacco... but he did not befind that my entire store had lieve that prohibition was unbeen looted by police while I constitutional. We then lost in was behind bars. Virtually ev- the Ontario Court of Appeal erything was gone - even books and, ultimately in the Supreme and hemp clothing. Undaunted, Court of Canada.

I rented a huge, 2,000 square foot location around the corner Considering that I was no from the first shop, and within a longer even using cannabis, it few weeks was up and running seemed like a natural time to again under the banner “Hemp move on. In my mid-twenties, Nation”.

I had developed anxiety and social anxiety disorder (both of Over the next few years, I which run in my family); THC raised over $100,000 to fund made both conditions worse. the challenge by selling “Vic- Meanwhile, the legal chaltory Bonds.” Each cost $25 and lenge was over and lobbying the

Issue Number 46

www.CannabisDigest.ca

Professional Fighter Nick Diaz Banned

13

Groups Call For a Ban of Nevada State Athletic Commission Following Nick Diaz Ruling

Jason Heit hen UFC fighter Nick W Diaz received a 5-year suspension and a $165,000 fine

for testing positive for cannabis - as a prescribed patient - this was the tipping point for me to come out and show my support as an advocate for medicinal cannabis. Nick Diaz and former middleweight champion Anderson Silva failed drug tests at UFC 183 on Jan. 31, and were disciplined by the Nevada commission, getting very different punishments.

Silva, who tested positive for steroids and two other banned substances, was suspended for a year and fined US$380,000 — 30 per cent of his fight purse and all his win bonus. Diaz was suspended five years and fined $165,000 — 33 per cent of his $500,000 purse. Diaz says he has been prescribed medical marijuana to help deal with his ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Diaz was caught twice before for cannabis in 2007 and 2012. Cannabis is prohibited in competition by the NSAC, which also uses the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code.

I reached out to Nick Diaz to let him know about the patients who are persecuted every day for choosing this medicine. I let him know how many other people out there are in his position, and that he is an inspiration for us all. I also let him know we are going to support not only him but also others that are being persecuted.

Nick was thankful and replied, “I know I’ve been fighting for something for a long time, but I didn’t realize this is what I’m fighting for until now. I’m happy to fight for other people in this position.”

After speaking with Nick, I reached out to advocate Ted Smith who is responsible for the recently changed laws in Canada with his recent victory in the Supreme Court of Canada allowing the right to use products other than dried cannabis. Ted and Owen Smith were found not guilty after they were charged for baking edibles

for cannabis patients. Ted said, “I will always be available to support cannabis patients.”

Dieter McPherson of the Canadian Association of Medical Dispensaries also offered his support. Dieter spoke about the studies of treatment of concussions and injuries with cannabis, and was surprised by the fight commission’s stance. Other sports organizations like the NFL have raised their limits on marijuana use.

Particularly sports in which athletes receive cranial and bodily impact should consider the neuro-protective, analgesic,

pension and what his thoughts are about it.

He added, “They need to rethink this punishment and then “Let that man smoke weed ultimately change their rules.” and enjoy his life!”

NSAC suffers from the same While others don’t agree with regressive tendencies that the five-year suspension, NSAC plague federal, state and muCommissioner Pat Lundvall nicipal governments in regard even recommended a lifetime to marijuana. Most people now ban for Diaz. support its legalization, and

more still admit and accept that “It’s upsetting,” Diaz told it’s a harmless substance and its TMZ when he was asked about users are needlessly persecuted, the punishment. but the entities enforcing the rules are often sluggish to ac“I have to figure out how to cept this shift. make a living. I held off on having kids and getting married so I am a former Canadian Boxing Champion, mixed martial artist, prescribed medical cannabis patient, and a health and wellness advisor at the Shadow Mountain Medicinal Society.

I’m a prescribed patient of medical marijuana because of injuries suffered in my profession.

I was prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication for years that irritated my stomach. There is still much work to be done in overcoming the stigma associated with choosing cannabis as a medicine. We must raise a united voice to stop the shaming and persecution of prescription cannabis users.

(UFC’s Nick Diaz poses for camera’s) anti-inflammatory, and painrelieving qualities of cannabis, keep them healthier for longer. We have come together in a unified voice to help stand up for people who continue to be persecuted for their choice of medicine.

No one deserves to be judged, persecuted, shamed or punished for wanting pain relief from a legal, safe medicine. Many others have come to the defense of Diaz. “Nick is a very close and dear friend of mine, so of course I’m going to defend him, but it’s so unfair if one person tests for steroids that could actually hurt a person and the other person smokes a plant that makes him happy and he gets suspended for five years,” said UFC bantamweight champion (Rowdy) Ronda Rousey.

When Diaz was asked by TMZ about Rousey, he noted the similarities between them and gave her props: “She didn’t need to do that. I don’t know if she caught heat for it. I hope she didn’t. But Ronda understands how I am. She’s like me, only a girl. A prizefighter. She’s a great friend.”

Floyd Mayweather Jr. seems to be backing up Rousey’s stance.

On the Mayweather Boxing Channel, he was asked if he heard about Nick Diaz’s sus-

I could fight. I gave my life to this. I am a fighter. It’s what I am. A lot of guys have to worry about what their wives and kids think, I don’t. All my attention goes towards fighting, and now I don’t know if I can fight.

They’ve taken it away from me.

I’m just trying to make ends meet.”

Senator Tick Segerblom of Senate District 3 -- which includes parts of Las Vegas -- says he’s not happy with the punishment doled out by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. “I think what they did was totally inappropriate,” Tick says ... “[marijuana] is a recognized medicine in the Nevada constitution so how can you punish someone for taking medicine, particularly since it doesn’t enhance your ability to fight?”

We are calling on all members of Shadow Mountain Medical Society, National Access Cannabis, Leafly, the Cannabis Buyers Club of Canada, Canlio, Cannabis Digest, the Canadian Association of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries and anyone else who wants to end of persecution of Medical Cannabis prescribed patients. We have a unified group in boycotting all Nevada State Athletic events until they drop the punishment, fine, and allow an exemption for prescribed medical cannabis patients.

Please sign the petition at shadowmountaindispensary.com

or contact NSAC at Phone: (702) 486-2575 eMail: boxing@boxing.nv.gov to voice your opinion.

Cannabis Digest â&#x20AC;˘ Fall 2015

Issue Number 46

www.CannabisDigest.ca

A Legend Of Medical Cannabis

15

An Interview With Pioneer Dr. Lester Grinspoon

Patrick Dewels

D

r. Lester Grinspoon is associate professor emeritus of psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School. He researched the medicinal legitimacy of the marihuana prohibition forty five years ago and discovered that an immense chain of lies served as a base for sending millions of people to jail the last four decades and a half in the US. Since then he became an advocate for telling the truth about marihuana. I had an telephone interview with him at the end of august 2015. This is my transcript of our Skype conversation.

Dewals: Can you tell me how you became interested in marihuana?

Professor Grinspoon: Well it began in 1966. During my anti-Vietnam activism I met Carl Sagan and he and I became very good friends. When I met Carl Sagan I was convinced that cannabis was a very harmful drug.

Going to his house one day I discovered that he smoked cannabis and so did many of his friends. Now these were not unsophisticated people and I tried to tell Carl how harmful marihuana was but he responded in a joyful manner that it wasn’t harmful at all. With this experience came the idea of writing a paper which would summarize the medical scientific basis for the marihuana prohibition.

At that time marihuana prohibition was leading to the arrest of 300.000 people, mainly young people, a year of which 89% for simple possession. For me it became important that this prohibition was justified. It was in the library of the Medical School that I found out that I was completely wrong about the harmfulness effects of marihuana. Not only was it not harmful it was remarkably nontoxic and the drug itself was not causing harm to the user but the policy of arresting people did. Some went to prison for having it and others saw their career goals compromised. So I wrote an article about the subject and it was published in the International Journal of Psychiatry. One of

the few people who read it was the editor of Scientific American. He asked me to reduce the article so it could fit in his magazine and he would than publish it as the lead article in one of the coming issues. When my article was published in the November, 1969 issue it caused a huge tsunami so to speak and debouched in the proposal from three different publishing companies to write a book about marihuana.

Eventually I wrote my book Marihuana reconsidered, that came out in 1971, with the Harvard University Press. When I was doing the research for my

Dewals: You said earlier that through the research for your f irst book you came to understand why people would use marihuana.

What are the reasons people use it?

Professor Grinspoon: Most people are familiar with the recreational use. But along with this use marihuana has an ancient history as a medicine as well. We know that Shen Nung, a Chinese emperor, who lived about 5.000 years ago already used marihuana as a medicine.

In modern western medicine Dewals: Even with all the data we had to wait until the mid that you used to support your work?

(Dr. Lester Grinspoon, Psychiatrist) book I did not only find out that marihuana was not harmful but I started to understand why people would use it, what the attraction was for them, and I decided, at the age of 42, that I was going to use it as well. It was just too interesting an experience to let go. But I knew that if the book would be a success there would be a good chance for me to be asked to testify before a congressional session or senate committee. Because I didn’t want my own experiences with marihuana to make my testimony less objective, in the view of others, I decided that I could only use marihuana, even being interested as I was, two years after the publishing of my book.

And indeed I ended up testifying before a senate committee. I remember a big tall senator who was rather doubtful about all I said, asking me “Doctor did you ever use marihuana?” and I answered “Senator I would be glad to answer that question if you could tell me that if I gave you an affirmative answer it would make you more sympathetic to my answer or less” He starred at me saying “You sir, are being impertinent” and he walked out the backdoor. Later that day, when I drove home, I said to my wife Betsy “The time has come” and sometime that week I would experience marihuana for the first time.

member the most significant of all. I was put up for early professorship by my chief at Harvard Medical School. At that time I had already published about 70 papers about schizophrenia and I had some expertise in this domain. So when my chief came back from the promotions committee he told me that the committee members loved my work on schizophrenia but they hated Marihuana reconsidered because it was much too controversial.

19th century for the introduction of marihuana through an English man named William O’Shaughnessy. At that time he worked in Calcutta and observed the indigenous people using marihuana as a medicine.

He started studies on animals to be sure it was safe and published his studies when he came back to England. Between 1849, the year O’Shaughnessy published his first paper, and 1900 I came across about 100 critical papers about marihuana as a medicine in my review of the literature.

The third use is the enhancement of a broad range of human activities. Everybody that has used marihuana knows that an ordinary meal can taste like a culinary treat and that it can enhance sexual experiences. But these are enhancements that are right there on the surface. Once one becomes more experienced with cannabis he can experience or appreciated phenomena in another way, for example understand art in a better way, use it for creative purposes or spirituality.

Dewals: When you published your f irst book Marihuana reconsidered in 1971, which was a controversial book at that time, what where the reactions of your peers and other scholars?

Professor Grinspoon: Well yes there was a lot of reaction. I re-

Professor Grinspoon: Oh yes, I just couldn’t believe it I said to him “Controversial, what do they think of scholarship”.

When I was leaving his office my chief said to me “They asked me to ask you a question, what are you planning to do next”. I said that I was an intellectual and that I did not know yet, which was a kind of lie, but that I wanted to have the freedom to go my way. The affaire resulted in the turndown of my candidacy for professorship at that moment and I had to wait till 1995 to become professor at Harvard, twenty years after my first candidature. In the beginning I was heartbroken but because I did not become a professor I could skip a lot of department meetings and other things, so I had a lot of time for my own research.

Because of the free time I started to become active against the cannabis prohibition that was and still is very destructive in the American society.

Dewals: What can you tell me about marihuana as an addictive substance and not holding any medicinal benef its?

Professor Grinspoon: Those are the myths about it. There are still people that think that it is addictive. They say that about 10% of the users become addicted. I don’t see it as an addictive substance. Sure you see some people using it all the time, especially many young people, but they do it because they did not figure out yet what to do with their lives. I used it for more than four decades, almost everyday, when there were times I could not use it I would not encounter any problems. Once I had to go to Malaysia for ten days to meet with a man that was caught with drugs over there and who was sentenced to death. Of course I did not bring marihuana with me and I felt good. I missed it but I felt nothing more.

Cannabis Digest • Fall 2015 experience it can occur as a preDewals: So marihuana addic- cipitating event. Many schizotion is just a myth? phrenics say their psychotic episode started after such a preProfessor Grinspoon: I don’t cipitating event. Those events believe there is such a thing as can range from an automobile marihuana addiction but com- accident or the death of a loved mon people are very concerned one. And I can imagine, I have when they discover that their never seen this, that the naïf use college kid is using marihuana. of marihuana can act as a preThey will get upset and take cipitating event. him to the psychiatrist. This doctor has no other choice Dewals: But then the use of than diagnosing the youngster marihuana is not the cause of the as a marihuana addicted, like schizophrenic disorder. The peris mentioned in the DSM, be- son was born with it? cause without putting a label on the ‘patient’ he will not be Professor Grinspoon: Look, reimbursed. Afterwards people it is a very simple exercise. The use this data to show that 9 or prevalence of schizophrenia is 10 % of the marihuana users are 1% around the world, across all addicted, but that is simply not different cultures. Given the true. I remember that one of my amount of people who started students who smoked marihua- smoking marihuana, includna decided one day to stop us- ing adolescents which I wished ing it to prove to himself he was wouldn’t do it because their brain not addicted. I thought it was a is not fully developed yet so they good idea and I said to myself would better wait until their let’s stop for 40 days and see how twenties, no scientist picked up it goes. I had no problem at all. even the tiniest increase in the The people who insist that mar- prevalence of schizophrenia. So ihuana is addictive are on very the people who write this can thin ice. Another thing is that not prove it. you can smoke it safely, there is no pulmonary bronchial notoriDewals: With the newest dates ous effect. Even if you smoke it that are available now, what do straight without using a vapor- you know about marihuana in reizer. Doctor Tashkin, a pulmo- lation with cancer? nologist, published articles on that issue and made it very clear Professor Grinspoon: I am that there was no danger. glad that you bring that one up.

I hear a lot of people talking as Dewals: Do you think that doc- if cannabis can cure cancer, and tors and therapists that work in that worries me. People who are rehab hospitals have a conflict not sophisticated about this will of interest? I mean, if a canna- not go to a doctor and they will bis user is not longer labelled and miss chemo treatment, radiation treated as an addict a lot of them or surgery and just rely on canwould f ind themselves without a nabis. By acting like this they job, no? lose a lot of time because with cancer you want to go as fast as Professor Grinspoon: Exactly you can to the doctor. So I think right! They have as I said above you can not say that cannabis to diagnose marihuana users as cures cancer. However there addicted people or miss their are some properties of cannareimbursement. But you can’t bis which in my view make it compare cannabis with opi- very important that those paates or alcohol. Especially the tients use marihuana alongside alcohol addicts can have severe the modern western oncologiwithdrawal symptoms. But you cal treatment. In case of chewill not have those with mari- motherapy for instance they can huana. use cannabis to combat the side effects of the treatment like disDewals: Can cannabis cause tressful nausea. Cannabis can psychosis or schizophrenia? help as well to diminish the size of tumours which can be imporProfessor Grinspoon: Abso- tant when the tumour causes an lutely not! Schizophrenia is a obstruction, it stimulates appedisorder which one is born with tite and in vitro it stops cancer but it doesn’t always manifest it- cells from spreading, kills canself. Usually it is during adoles- cer cells and leaves healthy cells cence that it starts showing. The untouched and interferes with one way that the use of cannabis the blood flow in the tumour. could be related to schizophre- So there are a number of effects nia his when people who are not which shows that marihuana used to cannabis start smoking pushes back cancer. This makes and become anxious or paranoia it important to use marihuawhich is off course uncomfort- na but along with the modern able. That’s why people have to medicine. Nobody has proven learn smoking it. I can imagine to me so far that cannabis cures that with someone who is can- cancer but for sure it is a very nabis naïf and has that kind of good adjunct.

Dewals: In Belgium our minister of health Maggie De Block, who is a doctor as well, says you can’t use marihuana as a medicine because their is no proof of it. According to her the only thing that is useful is sativex and only for MS-patients. What is your comment on that?

Professor Grinspoon: Let me start with saying that sativex is marihuana! To say that you could use sativex and not smoke marihuana to have a similar effect is a silly thing to say. And to state that there is no evidence is nonsense. There are mountains of anecdotal evidence, you can not just deny them. We are used to the idea that medicines come from pharmaceutical enterprises. After they did double blind tests with them. But this is a plant, and you can not patent a plant and have the exclusive license to sell it. That’s why the pharmaceutical enterprises are not interested in doing very expensive tests with marihuana, because at the end of a positive test anyone could bring a medication on the market.

Dewals: Are you saying that marihuana is a great medicine for the people but not for the pharmaceutical enterprises, for them it is worthless?

Professor Grinspoon: Absolutely! Another reason why you should not worrying about using marihuana is because it is not toxic. I remember when I had for the first time a patient with Crohn disease, even after surgery she was still compromised in her work because of it.

So I said to her I don’t know if marihuana will help you enough but I would try it. If it doesn’t help you it surely is not going to hurt you. And today, if you read the medical literature, it became a very important treatment for people with Crohn disease.

Some people say to me you should not say to people to use marihuana for this or for that.

But that is a silly thing, because it might help you and surely will not hurt you. If it does help you, you are very fortunate because it has no side effects and it will always be cheap.

Patrick Dewals is a 44 years old Belgian with a bachelor degree in mental nursery, a master in political sciences and on his way to becoming a master in political philosophy. Along with his studies he works as a freelance reporter.

Patrick Dewals @weedlttbelgium

Issue Number 46

www.CannabisDigest.ca

17

Child Welfare and Cannabis How legal business owners and patients lose their children state and others, but the lack of clear direction surrounding cannabis use coupled with it’s Federal schedule as a dangerous, addictive and medically deficient plant, has left many parents in a legal limbo faced with the very real threat of losing their beloved children.

December Kennedy Colorado, USA

here are very few things T that will instill more fear or more potent a panic than that of

a parent faced with the thought of losing their children, yet inside an industry with thousands of jobs and hundreds of professional positions that just happen to be cannabis related, that fear is a daily reality for many parents who are just trying to make a living. Business owners are frequently told that they are “feeding their kids with drug money” and patients are routinely investigated for the worst of crimes, child abuse, based solely on their admission of cannabis use.

The issue of Child Welfare in the cannabis industry is a topic that few, if any industry leaders are even brave enough to discuss.

Foregoing the topic for more hot button issues like pesticide use on marijuana crops or the abject racism regarding ownership has left a gaping hole in the regulation guidelines regarding cannabis, specifically in reference to consumption and cultivation by parents and caregivers within the state. When it comes to consuming or growing marijuana when there are kids around, legally, In Colorado, we just don’t know where we stand.

It is no secret that cannabis use has become as widespread and commonplace as ever here in Colorado and you can’t buy a gallon of milk without getting into a discussion about the changing landscape. While the public opinion has shifted dramatically, and continues to rally support nationwide in the United States, there are many places and opinions that haven’t changed despite positive evidence to the contrary. One of those places yet still clinging to the archaic view on cannabis, is the division of Child Protective Services. CPS is a portion of our local government, and an organization with far reaching powers aimed to support the underserved members of society, our children. This is a noble and worthy cause, protecting the lives of thousands of children in this

When I went into liver failure from pharmaceutical toxicity at 25 years old, the doctors told me to go home and say goodbye to my children. I had ballooned to well over 200 pounds and spent every day stuck in bed with unrelenting pain. I was unable to care for my three young children who desperately needed their mother and my life had dwindled to

shaking his head side to side as I spoke, amazed at the progress. I was getting better, I was getting my life back, and it was because of weed.

When I’d see people I hadn’t seen in years they would always remark about my transformation and without fail, I’d enthusiastically tell them how I’d gotten better. I became a cannabis televangelist and stopped just shy of going door to door to tell people the good news. I’d tirelessly educate people about the plant that saved my life and eventually I became a full fledged activist, fighting for not only myself but for anyone in the state that needed it as medicine. I’d go on In retrospect, I understand why to open one of the first Medical someone might see such a dramatic turnaround like I had, in such a short period of time, and immediately make assumptions.

I understand why someone made the call to Child Protective Services and told them that there was drug use in the house, around my children, prompting an investigation that lasted months and included those children going through an intrusive and traumatic hair follicle drug test at the local county jail amongst a waiting room of actual criminals.

I even understand why, when I told the person that lodged the complaint all about cannabis and Marijuana Bakeries in the state its benefits she crossed her arms of Colorado and I’d pride my- over her chest and said “I don’t self on crafting recipes that made want to be educated” promptpeople feel better. It was a rough ly ending the conversation for road, but I’d felt better than ever good. I believe that the desire to before and, thanks to cannabis, i protect children is ultimately a was able to finally live an almost good one, and I can’t fault somenormal life. one for not knowing the truth.

The trauma of having a state Then one day, that normal life agency suddenly involved in our was shattered by law enforcement lives based on a very false alleon my door step. They wanted to gation reverberated in my family come inside, they wanted to meet for years and even now, five years the kids and they wanted to see later, I still flinch when there is my garden. The police officers a knock on my door I wasn’t exwere followed closely by a pair pecting. of social workers who glanced through my cupboards and read The goal of Child Protective the grocery list stuck to the re- Services is to provide support for frigerator and peeked suspicious- the families in our community ly into my medicine cabinets. I that need it. This goal is often took them into our small garden muddied by personal opinions that was locked behind two sep- as well as situational bias on the arate doors and held my breath. part of the social workers who After counting and recounting are tasked with personally deeach pot of organic soil that held termining what level of ‘help’ to my medicine, the cops reached provide a family in need. After an out to shake our hands. “You anonymous tip, one CPS worker aren’t breaking any laws, here.” might perform a well checkup They said and motioned for the on a family and determine that door. “Have a nice day, ma’am.” despite the dismal circumstances surrounding them, the family is The relief of giving a cop a tour doing a good job and just needs of my cannabis garden while a helping hand in the form of fiI had a toddler on my hip, and nancial or medical assistance. having that cop tell me that I Another worker may see the wasn’t breaking any rules, was same family and choose to resurprisingly short lived. The so- move the children from the cial workers thanked the cops home based on social, racial, or for coming and when they had economic prejudices, or simply gone, the social worker turned because they do not agree with to us and said that they would the parenting style that has been be opening up an investigation employed. This means that there anyway. No laws were broken, yet is a very real danger as parents

“QUOTE NEEDED”

nothing in front of me.

Western Medicine failed and my body systematically shut down, one organ at a time prompting over ten different surgeries and countless months of demoralizing pain. I was dying and the doctors knew there was nothing they could do, so when someone suggested I try cannabis, I had literally nothing left to lose.

Within a year of starting, I was off of over a dozen different medications and my liver function was returning to normal. I lost over 100 pounds and as the weight melted, I began the long and painful process of rebuilding my muscles in order to be able to walk again, in order to push a stroller or hold a tiny hand while walking across the street to the park. Id fight through fear inescapable and pain unimaginable and I did so with the help of cannabis and a loving family who endlessly encouraged me to keep trying.

Eventually, Id grow strong enough to pick up my young son and hold him in my own arms and Id be the one letting go of the seat as my son stabilized his bike and learned to ride without training wheels for the first time.

Id do it all under the strict supervision and instruction of a doctor who saw how much cannabis was helping, one whom cautiously encouraged the treatment. Each week, he would scribble his notes,

CPS would be investigating us for child abuse. The social workers were very clear, they knew medical marijuana was legal in our state, they acknowledged the paperwork we had from my legitimate doctor for my legitimate medical issue, and they saw that were we being honest and helpful and cooperative. The police officers had cleared us of any wrong­ doing, and the social workers saw we were strictly following the rules, and yet, they didn’t care. It was their position that any cannabis use inside the home where children reside constitutes child abuse and we had but one choice, lose the plants or lose the kids.

Cannabis Digest • Fall 2015

18 inside the cannabis community that a social worker with CPS may make a determination about you or your family based on disinformation or prejudice, and there is a very real danger that your children can be taken from you simply because you are a medical marijuana patient, even if you have broken no laws. In the devastating case of 11 month old Angel Lane Place, who was removed by CPS in September of 2014 after her father admitted to marijuana use, foster care was a death sentence. The 20 year old foster mother admitted to shaking the infant while holding her by the throat, and to dropping her because she wouldn’t stop crying, illustrating a dangerous lack of screening in the foster care community.

Anyone, at any time, can place a call to the Child Protective Services and prompt an opening of a case disrupting the lives of any family and there are little to no repercussions to filing a false report. The anonymous tip model allows for anyone to lodge a complaint about anyone else, for any reason, often throwing an entire family into upheaval based on a private opinion. If you wear your medical marijuana badge while attending your son’s soccer game, or you educate a neighbor on what might ease their medical issues, someone may call CPS.

Once a case is opened, you have little recourse to protect yourself or your children from the extensive, painful and incredibly intrusive process.

As a business owner in the cannabis market, a mother of three and a medical marijuana patient, I have had to learn to use extreme caution discussing the issue with anyone. I have to be careful who I give my business card to and what I write about on social media and what advice I offer unsolicited. The pain and stress of going through an investigation, living with the very real threat of losing my children to the hands of the state simply for my choice of medication has left indelible marks on me, coloring my life with a constant hum of fear. As a survivor, I have a very real desire to share the medicinal benefits of marijuana with everyone, but as a witness to the power of Child Protective Services to make personal judgements that threaten my family, I often find myself staying silent.

When it comes to drugs around children, there are few who won’t side with extreme caution, but what does that mean for the thousand of adults, like myself, that are legally working within the cannabis market? Without clarity on the laws, children are being taken from loving homes based upon the admitted use of cannabis by one or more of the

parents, while other children are left unprotected in situations far more dangerous than just a parents choices to smoke weed. Worse yet, children are taken from pot smoking parents and placed into foster homes rife with emotional and sexual abuse, and in some cases, those innocent children being ‘protected’ are killed by the hands of abusive foster parents. On one hand, CPS has a responsibility to protect the unprotected, on the other hand, they clearly need guidance in the form of legislation on what constitutes a dangerous situation for a child in regards to marijuana.

I think we can all agree that it is inappropriate to light up a joint in front of your toddler. I think we can also agree that any drug use within view of a child is not in the best interest of that child and that you have a responsibility to keep it away from small hands and growing brains. However, during this intense time of shifting public opinion, is it not fair to ask for clarification on what is appropriate in the cannabis discussion? Is smoking out of a bong in front of your kid while you watch cartoons together different than discretely taking a capsule containing thc to treat your pain so that you can function effectively as a parent?

Is vaporizing cannabis different than smoking, and is it okay to medicate or indulge while walk-

ing your dog alone in the park late at night? Is it wrong to grow your own organic medicine right next to your tomatoes simply because you have children in the house? Where is the line and when can we stop being afraid of the repercussions that the damaging prohibition of cannabis may cause to our otherwise loving families?

In Colorado we are very lucky to have medical and recreational cannabis laws on the books. It shows a progressive and encouraging stance, one that the whole world should take note of when determining their own laws in the future.We are truly at the forefront of the movement and I am so grateful and so proud of that, but as much of a step forward as our laws are, we are still lacking an enormous amount of clarity surrounding the most important aspect of cannabis, the real life consequences of consumption and cultivation. We need our lawmakers to move past simply regulating the industry and collecting tax dollars and move toward protecting the rights and lives of the families in our communities. Our children deserve it.

For more information on how you can help keep our children safe, check out http://smartchoicessafekids.org/

Issue Number 46

www.CannabisDigest.ca

Political Parti Thoughts on the

THE CONSERVATIVES.

n 1993, the Progressive Con I servative Party of Canada, then under the leadership of Brian

Mulroney, suffered a severe collapse, finding itself with 2 seats in Parliament, 10 short of official party status.

The decade that followed belonged to the Liberals. In the interim the Reform Party of Canada developed under the leadership of Preston Manning. Established in 1997, it was an expression of western alienation. Steven Harper is a founding member. In 2000, the group reconstituted itself as the Canadian Alliance, and pledged to reduce government spending, especially on social programs. In 2003, the Alliance voted to merge with what was left of the Progressive Conservatives. Post merger they became simply, the Conservative Party of Canada. In 2004, members elected Harper as their leader.

uses it to defend its views on medical cannabis. Because it rejects science, the party is free to cherry pick its facts, and thus to use science as just another rhetorical device. Whether you believe that Harper will be defeated on October 19th 2015 depends partly on your prediction of where we are in the antiscience pendulum swing. Are we done?

Or are we moving more into the grip of religious fundamentalism?

THE LIBERALS.

The Liberal Party of Canada has had its own hard times. In 2004, the party was rocked by a public enquiry into an ad program it had devised to counter Quebec nationalism. The ensuing ‘sponsorship scandal,’ as it came to be called, revealed a series of sins much grander than the recent misdeeds of any Canadian senator. In 2011, the party found itself for the first time in its history, at 34 seats, in third place.

In 2013 the party chose Justin Trudeau as its leader. Trudeau is the eldest son of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, who served as Liberal Prime Minister of Canada from 1968 to 1984. His charisma is yet to be matched in Canadian politics.

Liberal policies have been consistently progressive: they have given us the Canada Pension Plan, universal health care, Canada Student Loans, official bilingualism, multiculturalism, peacekeeping, and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Harper’s neo-conservatism bears scant resemblance to earlier forms. Traditional conservatives believed in ‘natural elites’. But they held an organic view of society in which elites had an obligation to care for society’s members. In the 1970s and 80s Canadian conservative elites jettisoned the organic view in favour of something more fragmented: society as a collection of competing individuals. They retained the elitist idea, plus a traditional focus on secu- The Liberal’s fall to third place did not, rity and military spending nationally, as with the Conservatives, result in a and on law and order domestically. realignment of the party’s ideals. It has been steadfast in maintaining the conMapped onto Harper’s neo-conser- cept of a justice defined as: a governvatism are religious affiliations, rarely ment that seeks the greatest good for noted in mass media reports. Harper the greatest number of citizens, based attends the Christian and Missionary on the primacy of individual liberty.

Alliance, an evangelical sect with about Justin Trudeau’s vow to support the two million members. Seven main Canadian middle class is representative points of its belief system are: distrust of this outlook. So is his view on legalof mainstream science; disdain for the izing cannabis. Many of his supporters environmental movement; an attending were devastated when the party chose belief that God will disallow/cancel out recently to support Harper in passing any attempt to destroy creation—no Bill C-51, Canada’s intrusive, antineed to worry about the planet then; terror Bill. It remains to be seen how a distrust of media; a strong belief in amendments to C-51 that Trudeau has party loyalty; a belief that libertarian proposed would preserve the liberties economics is God’s will; and belief in for which the Liberal Party of Canada dominion theology—the idea that God has always stood. calls on humans to subdue and control all of creation. In addition, the church Trudeau has been much tried by the holds that the State of Israel is proph- Conservative’s attack ads, which cast esied, and must be kept strong, a view him as a fumbling kid. Negative attack sometimes called Christian Zionism. ads, a staple of US politics since the 1960s, are more recent and more conFrom this viewpoint, Harper’s choice troversial in Canada. Meanwhile it is of ISIS as the essential enemy, and Bill clear from watching the new, younger C-51 as the solution, is understandable. Liberal Party that it is more flexible Ditto for his views on scientists, and and open than are its counterparts. The science. Because ‘evidence-based’ is a policy to legalize cannabis, for example, popular term, the Harper Government bubbled up in 2013 from the ranks of

the Young Liberals—the 20 year olds.

In recent days Trudeau has introduced a 22-member team of economic advisors, with representation by women and visible minorities, and from a variety of regions. If his economic plans are not yet spelled out, it is likely a sign of his intention to run the party democratically. He’s been criticized for setting the Liberal Senators free from party affiliation to think and vote as they please. In truth, setting senators free is the simplest and best idea yet for senate reform in Canada.

A key ingredient in Canadian federal politics is the ‘whipped vote.’ Unless instructed otherwise, MPs are expected to vote with their leader. When they don’t, they are ousted, and must sit as independents, or join another party.

This practice has been called undemocratic, and is one feature that distinguishes Canadian democracy from its American counterpart. But an interesting side effect of this process is the rise of alternative movements and parties. In the American Congress, parties contain difference because their members can vote as they please. In the Canadian Parliament, parties externalize difference. Thus ‘externalized,’ alternative thinkers have little choice but to form alternative parties. In this way whipped voting has given us the New Democratic Party, the Bloc Quebecois, and the Green Party.

Although elections invite us to map our likes and dislikes onto registered political parties, the parties are not stable creatures. They are inclined to borrow each other’s platforms, sometimes entirely trading places. Trudeau the left of centre Liberal, for example, wants to run a deficit, whilst Mulcair the social

Cannabis Digest • Fall 2015

ies in Canada Federal Election

democrat wants to balance the budget.

To add to this confusion, individual MPs have been known to cross the floor of the House of Commons and join the opposition. Similarly, it has not been unusual for politicians to switch party affiliation. Further, the entire political spectrum can shift over time from left to right and back; pre 1970s, Canadian politics had a decidedly collectivist tone; post 1970s, as elsewhere, it exhibited less inclination to support social programs.

By Judith Stamps

tional Assembly (Quebec’s Legislative Assembly) serving as a Quebec Liberal. Mulcair emerged at this point as an environmentalist. He introduced bills both to amend the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms to include the right to live in a healthy environment, and to adopt a policy of sustainable development based on a successful European model. Quebec adopted both policies. It is reasonable to expect Mulcair to continue in this pro-environmental vein, should his party form the next government. In 2007, he joined the federal NDP as Jack Layton’s Quebec lieutenant; between them, they achieved a level of NDP support in Quebec never seen before. In 2012, a year after Layton’s untimely death, Mulcair stepped up as party leader.

It is clear, thus, that Quebec is Mulcair’s key support base, something he needs to maintain if his party is to succeed. His recent promise to provide $15 a day childcare across Canada, for example, is a plum offered to Quebec, and little else. This program requires 40% of funding to come from provincial coffers, a poorly advertised fact.

Quebec already funds a universal day care program; Mulcair’s program would thus shoulder 60% of Quebec’s childcare burden. As to the rest, the wouldbe prime minister did not consult with provincial premiers to see if they could afford such a program. Similarly, Mulcair’s promise to raise the minimum wage, spelled out in its entirety, offers a raise to federal employees only—less THE NDP. than 100,000 Canadian workers. He has also promised to decriminalize

The categories are rendered cannabis “the minute” his party wins. more fluid still when the parties in But he hasn’t said what his version of question begin life as grass roots politi- decriminalization look like. cal movements. The National Democratic Party has its origin in the Co- THE GREEN PARTY. operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), a prairie based fusion of labour The environmental movement groups and social progressives whose has its roots in 19th century romantiprinciples were first set out in the Re- cism, a movement that fostered love of gina Manifesto of 1933. The CCF nature. Its 20th century version can be believed that positive moves toward traced to Rachel Carson’s book, Silent social justice—countering the harms Spring, published in 1962, in which the imposed by capitalism—would follow author tracked the use of the insectifrom well-designed national policies. cide, DDT, common throughout the In 1958, in the light of membership 1950s; and to Greenpeace, created in decline, the CCF elected to re-create the 70s. In 1980, Elizabeth May, the itself. In 1961 it styled itself the NDP, GPC’s present leader, was a foundchoosing Tommy Douglas as its first ing member of the Conserver Society, leader. That strain of NDP supported based in Atlantic Canada. ‘Conserver’ nationalizing banks and major resource is meant to contrast with ‘consumer.’ industries, the better to ensure that they Conservers aim to move beyond wastebenefited working Canadians. Thomas ful consumerism and towards managed, Mulcair joined the party in 1974. sustainable development. In 1983, she helped to found the Green Party of Mulcair is a bred in the bone Que- Canada. I will say at the outset that becker. His mother was French Ca- however much one supports this party’s nadian. He studied and practiced law outlook, it is not always equipped to in Quebec, and from 1994 to 2006 was deal with regional needs. The GPC’s an elected member of the Quebec Na- first leader, Joan Russow, for example,

alienated Atlantic Canadians, and ultimately many Greens, with a blanket rejection of the seal hunt. Much discouraged, she left the party.

There is a larger lesson to be absorbed here. It is a mathematical certainty that every philosophy will find itself sooner or later facing a conundrum that cannot be resolved from within its own belief system. Harper’s philosophy couldn’t cope with Mandy McKnight, the Canadian activist mom whose child needed cannabis oil to treat his epileptic seizures. Similarly, Trudeau’s scientific, evidence-based, and honest approach is not helping him to cope with the political games Harper and Mulcair are playing.

Green party philosophy centres on the idea of fairness and social justice. But it does so in a way that extends honorary personhood to all life forms; in practice, the party supports diversity and other building blocks for environmental health. Green policies are based on a belief in kinship among all living creatures. At times, this view brings May back to the problem of contradiction. On a personal level, she has said that she cannot support what she calls a woman’s right to “frivolous abortion.” Of course she can’t; she can hardly grant personhood to an animal, and not to a fetus. But who gets to decide what ‘frivolous’ means? On this score, Trudeau’s rational approach fares better.

That being said, May is an exemplary parliamentarian, the author of 8 books, and recipient of 16 honorary awards. In 2010, Newsweek named her one of the world’s most influential women. She’s been a breath of fresh air since the day she was elected, and with her sustained focus on justice, she has brightened every political debate.

Meanwhile the spirit of meanness runs rampant. Harper runs a fractured show.

He’s done his demographic research; he knows who his supporters are. And, as a clear departure from party politics as Canadians have known it, he chooses to speak only to them. It is to be hoped that by withholding one too many olive branches, he eventually trips on this strategy. If all else fails and we get Harper again, expect in the future to see a Liberal/NDP/Green coalition— like the kind we should have had for this election…in my view, of course.

Issue Number 46

www.CannabisDigest.ca

A Story of Struggle For Life

21

Surviving epilepsy using an illegal medicine Cannabis Buyers Club and breaking the law to meet the medical necessities of the community, I knew the risks I was taking on, but I did not know the extent of the benefits that my actions would create, nor did I know how good it would feel.

Owen Smith

S

ince the Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that consummated our six year constitutional challenge, I’m commonly asked by people how I feel. It’s easy to say that I am very happy with the outcome insofar as it has helped innumerable people that I have never met escape unnecessary suffering.

For those who wish to understand more and who are patient and interested enough, I then begin to unravel the details of whichever of the many patient stories that comes to mind in that moment. While working at the V-CBC and introducing hundreds of people from all walks of life to medical cannabis, I became accustomed to the never-ending flow of heart-breaking patient’ stories and the consequent upwelling of grattitude for offering an alternative.

A major example has been the emergence of dozens of high profile cases concerning very young children with different kinds of epilepsy during the course of my six year constitutional challenge. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical expert released three investigative reports on such children and their families and caregivers.

It has been my great honour to meet some of the parents and their children who have found relief from suffering by using a cannabis based medicinal extract. At this year’s Lift forum in Toronto I received grateful embraces from a some of these parents in attendance including one Alexander Repetski, the father of three year old Gwen.

While it is certainly true that despite our successes earlier this year with the Supreme Court, the mighty cost of following through on our principled quest served as a punishment in itself, but $140,000 seems like a bargain when looking Gwen Repetski’s vital, engaging eyes and considering the dramatic life changing effects that our efforts have had.

By working at the Victoria

When I see the youthful curiosity in the Gwen Repetski’s glistening eyes, I feel a fluttering in my heart along with a sensation of lightness. They make me want to dance.

Alex’s daughter Gwen was diagnosed with intractable epilepsy at 3 months old. After 9 traditional therapies were tried, Gwen was still experiencing major seizures as well as consistent sub-clinical seizure activity. Sub-clinical seizure activity occurs without the physical shaking that is commonly recognized, “it’s like your brain is being scrambled”, which was preventing Gwen’s natural development. At 6 months old she suffered major side-effects from her steroidal injections, gaining 11 lbs. in 10

During approximately 2000 hours of research, Alex found studies showing the anti-spasmodic properties of cannabinoids and research affirming the general safety of its use. He presented his findings to the team of doctors that were taking care of Gwen. After some difficulty, one doctor took the time to read the studies that Alex brought him and was convinced that cannabis wouldn’t hurt her. He agreed to help Gwen access the MMPR.

Alex found Avidekel on the menu of MedReleaf. Avidekal is a high CBD strain with a content of 0.3 – 0.9% THC and 16 – 18% CBD originating from Tikkun Olam in Israel. Avidekal is among the most CBD dominant cultivars available. These strains incur little to none of the psycho-activity that is commonly associated with consuming cannabis.

Avidekal is tested for contaminants before being sold to Alex in dried form, at which point he extracts the cannabinoids and tests his final product to ensure an accurate dose.

of milligrams of each cannabinoid in a specific millilitre dose orally with a syringe.

Gwen hasn’t had a seizure since the second day of her treatment. EEG’s have continued to show no sub-clinical seizure activity. She is currently 80% through the process of weaning herself off of her previous conventional treatment, Valproic Acid (which didn’t offer the seizure control or benefits they have seen with cannabis). Alex says that his detail-oriented process and the measured administration of mg. doses of cannabinoids in an edible oil makes sense to her physicians.

Although she is still non-verbal, her doctors are pleased with her progress and continue to monitor her situation. Side effects from her cannabis use appear to be negligible.

Since the seizures have stopped, Gwen has restored her natural ability to learn skills, drastically improving her quality of life. She is now able to crawl, to walk with assistance and perhaps soon to run. In fact, in a recent conversation with Alex I learned that Gwen just recently stood up by herself for the first time. Gwen is now able to engage with her family, “her brother thought until now that baby sisters don’t bother you.”

He’s quickly learning otherwise.

Until the Supreme Court Ruling came down in June, Alex was ready to fight for his daughter in court. He was technically breaking the law in the same way that I was arrested for in 2009. He was thankful for our victory and feels the ruling has lifted a weight from his shoulders. Sometimes breaking the law is necessary to prevent the suffering of another human being. In such cases as these, the risk of punishment is far outweighed by the rewards of compassion. In the words of another heroic parent, “you have never lived until you have helped someone who can never pay you back”.

I recently interviewed Alexander Repetski on Time4Hemp radio, take a listen online at

days, almost doubling her body weight. As any parent will tell you, if a treatment holds the promise to end your child’s ongoing seizures, it is worth a try.

While researching her condition he discovered cannabis.

Alex found evidence dating back over 150 years that reported cannabis as an effective treatment for seizure activity.

He admits this is a laborious process and would like to be able to purchase what is needed instead, but he does find some security in monitoring the whole process himself.

It doesn’t require a chemistry degree but some basic understanding is important. He dissolves the concentrated cannabis into Avocado oil before administering a precise number

w w w. s p r e a k e r. c o m / u s e r / time-4-hemp/p-a-c-e-radio-07-06-15.

(A shorter version of this article previous appeared on LiftCannabis.ca)

Cannabis Digest â&#x20AC;˘ Fall 2015

Issue Number 46

www.CannabisDigest.ca

Cannabis Digest â&#x20AC;˘ Fall 2015

Issue Number 46

www.CannabisDigest.ca

The Battle of Winnipeg

25

Manitoba activists fight to free the weed On March 6, 2015 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, a compassion club opened its doors in arguably the most unfriendly jurisdiction outside of Alberta. Your Medical Cannabis Headquarters, on Main St. in the downtown core of Winnipeg is the effort of Glen Price, a medical cannabis user who wanted to bring the benefits of the weed to the citizens of his home town. Patients who wanted to buy from Mr.. Price’s club

By Dean Schwind must have an authorized doctor’s note. For those who do not have a note, the club would recommend a seemingly sympathetic doctor f you are a student of history who would issue a prescription, you will know that all of the for a fee. worlds empires have had a central seat, a Rome, Washington, or Ottawa if you will, where laws and politics, power and money, are the commodities of trade.

The hub of the empire, were the fate of the many is decide by the power of the few.

I

Inevitably, all empires come to an end, they are consumed by themselves in a hunger created by the change that comes from the introduction of new ideas and new beliefs. New ideas and new beliefs always come from the edge of the empire. Big change always comes out of the wilderness, powered by the new beliefs and new knowledge that emerge from the kaos that forms at the edges of civilization. It is no wonder that the current wave of cannabis reform in Canada finds it’s heart in British Columbia, a truly wild place, at the edge of the empire.

Within weeks of opening his doors Mr.. Price was visited by Winnipeg Police and issued a warning to stop selling cannabis as a result of a complaint originating from what many believe to be a legal producer funded sham grass roots organization out of Vancouver B.C., called Smart Looking at the map of North Approaches to Marijuana, or America it is clear that the cur- (SAM) Canada. rent wave of cannabis reform has sprung from a home on the westSAM Canada is part of what ern edge of the empire. With the many cannabis activists believe whole west coast of the continent to be the covert war being raged supporting legalized cannabis for by the corporations that own the medical use, California, Oregon, countries legal production comWashington, and Alaska have all panies against dispensaries in created laws and regulations sup- Canada, to lock down market porting legal medical cannabis share like Dupont and Hearst did and the new industry that has in the 1920’s. The suspected corsprung up around it. But, while porate front group advocates for the wave of liberation from can- medical cannabis to be supplied nabis prohibition has spread east- only via government approved ward across the USA freeing the legal producers. SAM Canada, weed, or at the very least, creating has attempted to secure the mardebate in some suprisingly con- ket place for its masters, the lp’s, servative jurisdictions like Texas unsuccessfully in other jurisdicand southern states like Ala- tions but has failed. However, the bama, the same cannot be said in group is proud to claim that by our own country, which seems to putting pressure on the Winnihave established a scant few bas- peg mayor’s office, and the police tions outside of BC and Ontario service, to file a service complaint that are brave enough to offer that Winnipeg police weren’t upaccess to the medicine. Jurisdic- holding the law by allowing the tions were RCMP have control storefront sale of medical mariof local policing to directly en- juana they had assisted in the force the will of Mr. Harper and closure of Mr.. Price’s shop. his PC parties prejudice against cannabis, or conservative and igOn Monday, August 3, 2015 norant administrations in mostly a Winnipeg police swat team central provinces have become swarmed the shop arresting Mr.. the prohibition defenders of the Price, Mr.. Price’s wife, and a club new hot spots in the war on can- member who was in the shop at nabis in Canada. the time. Officers cited pressure

from Health Canada to crack down on marijuana dispensaries as the reasoning behind the raid.

Glen Price showed his true activist colors by stepping up to the plate and declaring, “It’s not going to stop me. They can arrest me, I’ll get out, we’ll set down some ground rules on what I’m going to do next, and I’ll be back,”

of Winnipeg, the coming federal election may be the force that not only frees him but reopens the doors of his shop to allow him to continue to meet the medical needs of his 275 plus membership. However, even without a win for a pro cannabis party in the coming election, a pro-compassion club judiciary in Canada has traditionally thrown out charges brought against clubs as violations of their members personal rights and freedoms, a fact which bodes well for this brave group of Winnipeg activists.

Unfortunately, Mr.. Price was also squeezed by the other side of the vice clamped on the throat of medical cannabis in Canada, the Canadian Medical Association.

The doctor he thought was on board to assist his growing clubs With over 150 cannabis dispenmembership publicly distanced saries operating in the provence himself after threats of investiga- of BC, and the legitimization of tion by CMA. the new industry by the provinces two largest municipalities, the future fate of medical cannabis in Canada seems clear. The excitement and flurry of creative energy from the birth of this new green industry in BC is a force for change that can cause us lucky western residents at the edge of the empire to sometimes forget that the prohibition still rages on in all the small towns and cities across the country. Sick people in large parts of our free country are denied access to the many benefits of a plant that we British Columbians have come to publicly embrace and accept as part of our every day lives.

Mr.. Price claimed in multiple press interviews that his members must have a doctor’s note to purchase cannabis from his club, but if prospective members don’t come with a note in hand, the store has a local Doctor they could recommend. “My doctor was the only one who was willing to help anybody, as long as they have the proper medical documentation,” Mr.. Price said, referring to Winnipegs’ Dr. Roman Chubaty. Dr. Chubaty runs two walk-in clinics in Winnipeg, and maintains he is following Health Canada’s guidelines. He is upset about Mr. Prices public statement and claims that he now doesn’t condone what Mr.. Price is doing despite still offering the cannabis prescription service to his Winnipeg patients for a fee of $300.

Even as the tied is turning, the prohibition of medical cannabis continues, and in it’s death throes that prohibition will strike out in unusually vindictive and aggressive actions. We must be especially vigilant in our protection and support of those activists that are still in the thick of the battle against cannabis prohibition. We must vote in the coming federal election, we must take our country back from greed and lust for power.

The medical cannabis community can now claim Glen Price and his brave crew of activists as some of the heroes that history will show to have changed the unjust cannabis laws in Canada by simply and compassionately providing the people of their community with a safe healthy alternative medicine that is changWhile Glen Price and his crew ing the world that we live in. await the next stage in the battle

Cannabis Digest â&#x20AC;˘ Fall 2015

Issue Number 46

www.CannabisDigest.ca

Maritimers United Against Prohibition

27

Eastern Canada Has More Cannabis Activists Than You Think

Debbie Stultz-Giffin n March of this year, as reI ported in the Spring Issue of Cannabis Digest, Halifax City

Police and the Integrated Street Crime Unit charged medical cannabis patient Bob Dillman and his wife, both from Dartmouth, with possession and production of cannabis. Dillman had fallen into a legal quagmire created by the Allard decision in federal court, British Columbia, and changes to the federal medical cannabis program that sought the elimination of home gardens for medical cannabis patients and their caregivers.

Dillman’s last federal exemption was dated February 2014.

With the previous program winding down, he was unable to renew his paperwork through Health Canada before it expired, despite the fact that his doctor continued to sanction his medical use. Living on a limited, fixed income, Dillman was unable to afford cannabis from Licensed Producers. In fact, the cost of obtaining corporate cannabis would exceed his monthly income by $18.00. Even a financial guru couldn’t make that equation work!

On May 11th, Dillman received word that his wife’s charges had been dropped. The following morning, in Dartmouth Provincial Court, he learned that his charges would follow suit. Dillman said that after their names were called in court, the crown claimed that ‘evidence was an issue.’ Therefore all charges were withdrawn. Yet the RCMP had confiscated at least 18 plants and an undisclosed amount of cannabis the day of the raid. Just days after they learned of their fate, Dillman and his spouse joined with Maritimers Unite for Medical Marijuana Society (MUMM) for a press conference at the High Life Social Lounge in Halifax. As a result of this press conference, Ray Bradbury, Global News, Halifax, extracted the following statement from the Public Prosecutor Service of Canada: “The charges were withdrawn in this matter because the public interest was no longer best served by prosecution.”

rest of patients who utilize cannabis for therapeutic purposes, MUMM kick-started a petition at Dillman Park (a.k.a. the Dartmouth Commons), Dartmouth, at the 20th annual Cannabis Day celebrations on July 1st. The petitioners are requesting that the province of Nova Scotia work with law enforcement and the Public Prosecution Service of Canada to ensure that the arrest and prosecution of chronically ill Nova Scotians be stopped immediately. Our executive is also awaiting an appointment to discuss our concerns and suggest alternatives to arresting patients with the province’s recently appointed Provincial Justice Minister, Diana Whalen.

Sadly, another patient and spouse were arrested and charged under the CDSA on August 5th.

In March of this year, Rob Roy and his spouse, who fall into the same grey area as Dillman, were raided, and are now set to appear for finger printing and mug shots on October 5th at the Kingston RCMP detachment, and later that same morning at the Annap-

on September 9th to appeal his CDSA 7 marijuana production charge based on previous ineffective counsel. He concluded, after meeting with his lawyer just moments prior to court, that he had lost faith in her ability to represent him. After briefly convening court, the appeal judges returned to the bench to grant MacDonald’s request. Justice Beveridge acknowledged that this case was of importance to MacDonald, and that it was therefore crucial that he had counsel of whom who he felt sure. Beveridge apologized to “Mr. MacDonald’s supporters, some of whom have come a distance to be here, for making the trip in vain.”

MUMM had held a rally with 16 supporters prior to this hearing, and it received excellent front-page coverage in the provincial paper: The Chronicle Herald. Once again the mantra “Stop Arresting Patients” was heard in this province, so we certainly didn’t concur with the judge’s assessment that our time had been wasted! MacDonald will be back in Appeal Court

Mount Denson. (Follow “The Maritimers Unite for Medical Marijuana Society” on Facebook as details of next year’s event evolve!) John Cook was MUMM’s original Vice Chair and Co-founder. Sadly, due to health complications in 2012, John was forced to resign as Director of Cannabis Buyer’s Club of Canada’s Halifax outlet after nearly 10 years of helping patients to access their medication; on August 31, 2013, he passed away. Words like selfless, compassionate, heart of gold, understanding and empathy were prominent in his obituary. John was a constant shining example of leading by example, of how to run an open, transparent compassion club, and how to be an activist with real integrity. John’s dedication to patients and the medical cannabis cause was unwavering. Therefore, it was with great pride that MUMM dedicated its inaugural annual cup to John’s memory. When the name: ‘The John Cook MUMMorial Cup’ was proposed, it seemed like such a natural fit and a wonderful way to create a legacy for John!

Although each category in the cup was awarded a trophy or medal at MUMM’s Annual General Meeting and Awards ceremony on September 12 by John’s wife, Krista, a “Judge’s Choice” trophy has been designated to bear the name of the individual who scores the most overall points, by average, in all categories. This cup will rotate among the various shops that sponsored this event, and will travel with us as we host various educational events here in Atlantic Canada. Jose “Pedro” (Cory Amirault, Debbie Stultz-Giff in and Flute Wood ) Dominguez, of Quebec, will have his name engraved as this year’s olis Royal Courthouse. MUMM on Oct. 1st to set a new date for Judge’s Choice for his amazing and Halifax Anonymous Hemp trial.

New York City Diesel entry.

Sector will be on hand to offer support, and will be holding a The last weekend of August Who knows, maybe next year it rally outside at both the RCMP marked MUMM’s 8th annual will have your name on it. detachment and the courthouse, Harvest Fest, and the distribuwhich, by the way, is the oldest tion of the judge’s gift bags to Debbie Stultz-Giffin court in Canada. start the John Cook MUMMorial Cup. This event was held in Chair: MUMM James MacDonald, featured in the beautiful Annapolis Valley’s a CD spring article on patients in Nova Scotia who have been prosecuted, was sentenced to 60 days by Justice Del Atwood at the Pictou Provincial Court on January 8th 2015. He was convicted of marijuana production. Caught in a void between Health Canada medical marijuana exemption approvals, this 36-year old Stellarton man dealing with debilitating Crohn’s disease was arrested in February, 2014, when the Pictou County Integrated Street Crime Unit executed a warrant to search his home. MacDonald successfully obtained a new authorization for his medical cannabis several months later.

MacDonald appeared in the Increasingly frustrated by, and Nova Scotia Court of Appeal concerned over, the on-going ar-

Cannabis Digest â&#x20AC;˘ Fall 2015

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Cannabis Digest â&#x20AC;˘ Fall 2015

Updates, Warnings and Suggestions making enough money to pay for itself, we are excited about our future possibilities. We would especially like a Team 420 vapor lounge in Victoria.

Ted Smith

test is followed by hot-boxing the front stairs of the court. There have been some very entertaining contestants willing to do all sorts of things to win this, and since it is too dark to film you really have to be there. Thanks again to our sponsors the Beard Bros, Crop King Seeds, Sacred Herb, Jupiter, and the BC Smoke Shop. The event starts at 7pm on Halloweed.

Speaking of Team 420, we sure had an awesome dodgeball tournament this summer. It was so much fun playing dodgeball on the back lawn of the courthouse for the afternoon. And huge kudos goes out to the Beard Broth- At the Victoria Cannabis Buyers ers, not only for sponsoring the Club everyone is excited about

I

t has been an exciting fall for the Cannabis Digest and the International Hempology 101 Society. In Sept we celebrated 20 years of Hempology 101 in Victoria with our annual march from City Hall to the legislature. For highlights please read my article at the back of the paper, or check out the video we made of the march, and the speech made by Cheryl Thomas, the federal Liberal candidate for Victoria.

Of course Sept is also the kick-off for the school year. The 420 gatherings have started up again at the University of Victoria, in the center of campus, with no sign of the campus police for the first time in years. The club at UBC also seems to be going strong, with about 70 students attending the AGM in September. It will be interesting to see how the UBC Hempology 101 club grows, as it is quite independent of the nonprofit society, and there is great potential on that campus for the club to become involved in all sorts of research.

Around the same time, the newspaper confirmed a number of advertisers, helping it grow from 32 to 44 pages in one big jump! This will help the paper grow into the future, and should ensure that I can actually start getting $500 a month, pay our bookkeeper a small amount, and hire someone to improve our webpages to increase our revenue streams even more. As the paper is finally

(Ted and Gayleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first Halloween together)

event, but for bringing a tent and a dab bar!! Everyone enjoyed doing dabs while waiting for another game. Of course my team won because I kick ass! If you want to watch, the videos are on our Youtube page. Congratulations to Kelsey for winning the Most Valuable Player award, and Adam for winning the Most Kind, aka sportsperson-like award. Also thanks to Sacred Herb, Crop King Seeds, BC Smoke Shop, Jupiter, and the Beard Bros, for sponsoring this awesome event.

Next year we plan on hosting tournaments in Nanaimo, Vancouver, and Victoria, and we will only grow from there.

Our next event will be the annual Halloweed costume contest that we host on the front steps of the courthouse. For years we have held a large, very entertaining costume contest; the winners usually get a nice bong. The con-

Vancouver is allowing capsule and oils, but no cookies or candies. While there may be some problems with the new regulations, it is amazing to think that the VCBC is going to become a licensed establishment in the near future, regardless of who wins the federal election.

Speaking of the election, Satan sure loves those who do not vote, leaving his minions in charge to rape and pillage the planet in the name of profit. If you care enough to have read this, though, you will likely care enough to vote. But it is still important to pressure others into voting too, as the 1% cannot maintain control forever in the face of mass participation in the democratic system.

Finally, a word about my love, Gayle Quin. As I write this she is in terrible pain. While through the spring and summer she seemed to be slowly recovering, this August the pain in her back suddenly shot through the roof, followed a few weeks later by pain in her hip. We are so very lucky she has lived this long, but it is very distressing to see her suffering so much for so long. She is tired of fighting for her life, but continues to make the most of every moment with me. A huge thanks goes out to everyone who has helped us with cannabis medicines, money, food, gifts, flowers, hugs, love and visits. The love we feel on a daily basis keeps us going.

the city preparing to license dispensaries. It might not all be good news, though, as we may have to fight to keep our smoking room. We will try to keep members up-to-date regarding all possible opportunities to educate the city councilors and staff about the need for a safe smoking room for patients. We are also concerned that rules regarding edibles may be restrictive, like the regulations being introduced in Vancouver. FUCK CANCER.

Issue Number 46

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Cannabis Digest â&#x20AC;˘ Fall 2015

Issue Number 46

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Why Doctors will Love Cannabis

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Top 10 Reasons Why Canadian Physicians Will Learn to Love Cannabis (known as the “entourage effect”) which cannot be achieved by the synthetic cannabinoid compounds in pills (i.e. Nabilone) which attempt to mimic just THC or CBD.

people who use opioids for pain management find that they can get by with fewer pharmaceuticals when they add cannabis to their treatment program. While only a few studies have shown this effect, there is a fair amount Number 7: It is safe. Compared of anecdotal evidence to support to all other medications, canna- this conclusion bis is the safest when one examines its toxicity, dependence poNumber 3: It works. This may Jerry Golick tential, side effects, interaction sound somewhat repetitive but with other drugs, etc. Espe- it is worth re-stating. Regardcially important is the fact that less of the debate surrounding a fatal overdose is impossible. In the amount and type of evivery day we hear stories the hundreds of years in which dence available, there is suffiabout Canadian citizens it has been smoked, inhaled, cient evidence to indicate that seeking permission to use can- ingested, and applied topically, many people have found relief nabis as a medicine and being frustrated by doctors unwilling to prescribe. A good friend of mine challenged me to write a top ten list of why, sooner or later, Canadian health professionals will have to accept medical cannabis:

E

Number 10: There is actual science involved. The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is real and there have been more papers published about it than almost any other aspect of medicine in the last 20 years. Consisting of the endogenous cannabinoids, the CB receptors, and related enzymes, the ECS is a well documented physical system of the body. Unfortunately, most Canadian doctors remain ignorant of it, and most Canadian medical schools don’t yet have it as part of their curriculum. This must change.

Number 9: It is pervasive.

Cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) are prolific and spread throughout the body and the brain. In fact, in some areas of the body they are more abundant than any other receptor.

Their behaviour influences virtually all the major systems in the body. This means that the same medication can be used to treat many different conditions. Physicians classically have thought of medications as “one ill, one pill”, but will have to radically change their thinking when it comes to cannabis - “one weed, many needs”.

there is not a single documented case of a fatal overdose. Doctors would be hard pressed to name another medication which can make the same claim.

Number 6: A wide range of strains and delivery options are available. The cannabis plant is very amenable to being bred for different concentrations of different compounds. Not only are the concentrations important to the medicinal effect, but the ratio between the compounds appears to be important as well.

These compounds can be delivered directly (via smoking or juicing) but can also be extracted using a variety of techniques allowing for the development of capsules, suppositories, edibles, oils, topical ointments, etc. Physicians will need to be informed on all these options so they can prescribe correctly.

Number 5: Its effects when inhaled are instantaneous.

While the onset of effect is much slower when ingesting, inhaled cannabis goes to work immediately. Often, it is in a matter of seconds or minutes. This means that patients can judge for themselves how much they require without worrying about taking too much. This is a very valuable attribute when dealing with pain management.

Number 8: There is more to cannabis than the better-known cannabinoids THC and CBD (Cannabidiol). While the major focus in the past number of years has been on these molecules, the cannabis plant contains over 400 different compounds including over 100 cannabinoids, plus terpenes and flavanoids, many of which are implicated in a variety of therapeutic effects. Also, many researchers are suggesting that these compounds work to- Number 4: It has demonstrated gether in a synergistic manner opioid-sparing properties. Many

evolutionary biology: “So much of science is incremental, but with this cannabis work, the science will not be incremental. It will be transformative. Transformative not just in our understanding of the plant but also of ourselves— our brains, our neurology, our psychology. Transformative in terms of the biochemistry of its compounds. Transformative in terms of its impact across several different industries, including medicine, agriculture, and biofuels. It may even transform part of our diet—hemp seed is known to be a ready source of a very healthy, protein-rich oil......

Cannabis is an embarrassment of riches.”

In other words, - It has staggering potential for medical applications. It is now being examined for its possible anti-tumour effects, has been shown to regenerate bones at an accelerated rate in animal experiments, provides relief from PTSD, may represent a novel approach to treatment of autism, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, MS, arthritis, etc.

We are only scratching the surfrom pain and other condi- face of what cannabis can do. tions. Even if this response were only a placebo effect, thousands And the Number 1 reason that upon thousands of patients have the medical community will claimed it improves their qual- have to embrace cannabis: Leity of life in a meaningful man- galization is coming, regardless ner. Given the safety profile of of how the medical community cannabis, this should be enough feels about it. And when it does, for most doctors to consider it based on their current closed in the same way as they do acet- mind policy about cannabis, aminophen or ibuprofen, which they will be in the unenviable is to say as a first line treatment. situation of knowing less about it than their patients. Surely this Number 2: It is “transfor- is something they will want to mative”. Not my words but a avoid. quote from a recent National Geographic article ( June 2015, http://ngm.nationalgeographic. com/2015/06/marijuana/sidestext). By Nolan Kane, a geneticist at the University of Colorado Boulder who specializes in

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35

Fragmentation in Cannabis Culture Thoughts on Cannabis and the Problems of Modernity migrant workers: Mexicans, later to view them though waves of mass, white Anglo paranoia.

Bridges between racial groups in the 20th and 21st centuries have proven so difficult to build that efforts have collapsed frequently under the weight of street riots, gang warfare, and targeted assassinations. In 1897 the French sociologist, Emile Durkheim, Judith Stamps coined the term ‘anomie’ to describe the condition of the individual living in a society so fragmented that it can provide little, . Under the Best Circum- if any, moral guidance. This stances, Communication is description applies equally to Difficult. cultural groups. Anomie is the

1

If you had lived in a pre-20th century rural community, or small town, you, your spouse, your friends, and your workmates would have shared a history, and a common culture. You would have played the same games, sung the same songs, gone to the same church or to different churches together, learned the same manners, and imbibed the same concepts of work and family. Your key relationships, thus enmeshed, would have endured.

The shift, in modernity, from rural and small town, to big city life, did away with much of that.

Today we live with neighbours, co-workers, friends, and sometimes spouses, from cultures or subcultures unlike the ones in which we were raised. Under these conditions we can and do form relationships, but we struggle to maintain them, and we often fail.

We succeed, when at all, by building cultural bridges: we explain our jokes, we describe the books we’ve read, and the films we’ve seen, and the values we’ve adopted, and the spiritual beliefs we hold. This process is difficult to master, and we often feel inadequately understood. It is also tiring to maintain. Primary relationships suffer the most, a fact to which high divorce rates attest. Friendships and work relations suffer too. We ease these difficulties by immersing ourselves in work, in consumer culture, in multi-cultural associations, in festivals and so on. These are cultural bridges, but they are weak ones. Strong bridges between cultures call for more skill than many of us can muster.

Some of our difficulty, of course, stems from the colonial practices of the 17th to 20th centuries, in particular, the slave trade. To big city anomie, we must add the bitter history of black-white relations. We must add, as well, the trampling of Native cultures, which remain to this day, poorly understood. In North America, we must add the practice of importing workers: Asians; and

tions, a program currently under threat. They are in the midst of a legal battle for the right to home gardens. Home growers and DGs deeply resent LPs, and some DGs in BC resent dispensaries now that they’ve acquired semi-legal status. There are also informal, unlicensed merchants equally low in profile. Where they stand on any of the above is unclear. There are hemp farmers, doctors who now prescribe, and many more who won’t.

In Washington State recreational, licensed producers have squared off against patients, de-

chronic condition of contempo- nying them the right to medical rary life. dispensaries and home gardens.

Much of the work of legalizing Cannabis prohibition grew out in both countries has taken place of this fragmentation: attitudes through costly legal challenges. toward ‘marijuana’ in the 1920s Some dispensaries, hemp proand 30s were racism by other ducers and others have donated means. The movements to le- funds to help with these; others galize cannabis that followed in have done nothing. Those who 1960s and 70s created an activist help out resent those who don’t. culture held together by shared There are publicly traded LPs, suffering, shared aspirations, and many activists who resent and a shared project—building this kind of commercialization. a bridge to everyone else. As In states that have legalized, we seem, en masse, to be on the there are municipalities that verge of legalizing, it appears welcome shops, and those that that these efforts have succeed- ban them. It goes on and on. ed. But as friends of cannabis blend into mainstream society, we see new forms of cultural . What is to be done? fragmentation along all too familiar lines, this time amongst We can go on fragmenting. Such traditional cannabis fans. is the fate, as I’ve suggested, of most sub-groups in the modern world. They tend not to share . So Many Divisions a language, figuratively speaking. But we don’t have to go In Canada, for example, there that way. Formal activist groups are LPs: growers and producers like the ‘Sensibles,’ NORML, of medical cannabis, licensed by the Marijuana Policy Project; the federal government, but al- the Drug Policy Alliance and lowed to function by mail order others focus on the broad isonly. There are medical can- sues of legalization and public nabis storefront dispensaries, education. As these issues begin illegal, but tolerated in places, to resolve, they might think to and regulated in four BC mu- turn their gaze inwards. Mendnicipalities. Some LPs lobby ing or building bridges between actively against dispensaries. the fragmented elements of canMany cannabis activists view nabis activism must also become LPs with contempt. There are the concern of local groups, esunlicensed growers who sup- pecially as fault lines are differply dispensaries, and who keep ent in different places. Here are a low profile. One tends not some ideas to consider. to meet them at cannabis conferences that have sprung up of Cannabis conferences and publate. There are home growers lic debates are common. They and designated growers (DGs) spread the word on new devellicensed under Canada’s Medi- opments in cannabis science and cal Marijuana Access Regula- medicine, cannabis law, canna-

3

2

bis history, regulation, and so on. They are constructive, and often inspiring. But the ones that I’ve attended or read about have not addressed the problem of uncomfortable divisions among sub-groups of activists, even though activists are generally aware of them. We might consider departing from this practice, for example, by having discussion panels on this topic.

These could feature representatives of sub groups, a skilled and experienced moderator, and input from the audience. In whatever combination makes sense, we could have a panel that included LPs, dispensary owners or executive directors, home gardeners, and designated growers. In places where the divisions are different, panels could include patient groups and recreational ones. It would suffice as a starting point for each representative to explain his or her group’s difficulties, and hopes for the future. It would be helpful if they described the tensions they experienced with others, within the bounds, of course, of civil conversation. Perhaps a small, secluded workshop would work best. Perhaps the groups in question could be called upon to help structure the sessions. It would be a breath of fresh air to hear such groups in dialogue; I have a vague idea of what some of them are about, a much vaguer one on what they are about from their own point of view.

And while we’re at it, for the sake of internal harmony, we might find ways to billet, and subsidize attendance by, less wealthy activists. Conferences can be expensive.

The larger activist organizations noted above might make space for meetings of this kind. In many places, dispensaries and local cannabis activist clubs hold regular meetings. These are held in private settings, out of dazzling glare of video cameras, and journalists. They could occasionally issue strategic invitations. Members could invite an LP representative one month, a director of a different dispensary another time, a City Mayor, and so on. Unlicensed, underground activists might feel safe enough to speak to a dispensary group.

Or maybe not.

In British Columbia, my home province, there are dispensary owners, LPs and other activists that carry on some level of polite interchange. They could stage an informative debate on these matters. From the larger viewpoint, the goal would be to build a common language in the manner noted above: describe their experiences; share their stories; and tell us what they have been

Cannabis Digest • Fall 2015 working on. Activists are always working on something: growing techniques, extraction methods, testing methods, blogs. There is scope. A further goal might be to engage in a shared project: a combined presentation to a City Council, perhaps, or to another level of government.

That being said, by common language I mean simply that fractious sub-groups find some topic or activity that constitutes common ground for even a short time. An identical point of view is neither realistic nor desirable.

Nor should one expect that all or even most parties would participate. It is sufficient if some willing individuals step out of their comfort zone, break the ice, and try conversing. They need do so only for limited periods of time, with no special expectations placed on them beyond a com-

mitment to a calm interchange.

It is a commonplace that social movements fracture, especially as they start to make headway.

But the cannabis movement isn’t quite like any other. It has a product to offer, one that functions, among other things, as a heightener of self-awareness.

Cannabis, used thoughtfully, helps to shift one’s perspective on just about anything. Cannabis activists know that such a shift is possible. They’ve seen it in action. Imagine if some of us could cultivate, and teach, creative bridge building. Why if we got good at it, we could hire ourselves out as cannabis mediators. That would do more than transform our relations.

It would bring honour to the movement, and do justice to the activists that have sustained it for all these years.

Issue Number 46

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Cannabis Digest • Fall 2015

Hempology 101 Celebrates 20 Years Two Decades Of Cannabis Activism In Victoria Make History servatives’ prohibition does not work. It leaves it in the hands of criminals, kids are buying from criminals, the quality is not controlled, you do not know what you are getting and 60% of the police drug squad resources are going to marijuana issues. What a bloody waste.”

Ted Smith

Whatever the future may hold for cannabis and Hempology 101, our group has a long list of accomplishments from over the last 20 years. However, our story ac-

One of the first things I did was to create a Hempology 101 club at the University of Victoria. A couple of years later we started hosting monthly 420 circles in the center of campus, and by 1998 we were doing them every week.

In Nov 2000, I was arrested after a 420, and charged with trafficking cannabis for passing joints around. Instead of scaring the students, this event caused them, the following week, to come out in much larger numbers than

fter 20 years of activism in A Victoria, BC, the International Hempology 101 Society

has a lot to celebrate. Though cannabis is not fully legal yet in Canada, our organization has witnessed massive changes in the acceptance and understanding of this incredible plant. In many ways, we have been a big part of the catalyst towards legalization, and deserve an opportunity to party.

On Wednesday Sept 2, 2015, we held our annual march from city hall to the legislature, a tradition we have maintained since 2000.

The first Hempology 101 meeting that I organized in downtown Victoria was on the first Wednesday night of September 1995; we have kept this weekly tradition for over 12 years. In the early days, having recently left my home in Ontario, I lived in a van.

At 26 years of age it seemed to me that educating people about cannabis was a worthy cause.

(Ted Smith Speaks at City Hall in 2001)

tually starts in Vancouver, when Danna Rosiek was manager of Marc Emery’s store, Hemp BC. In November 1994, she started weekly Tuesday night Hempology 101 meetings in her apartment; soon afterwards I started to attend meetings. In the spring of 1995, I decided to move to So it was surreal, at the end of Victoria to expand the group and March, to have the federal Liber- write a book about the history al candidate for Victoria, Cheryl and uses of this incredible plant.

Thomas, come to speak about legalizing cannabis on the front It was a humble beginning. All steps of the BC provincial capi- I had was a flag, handouts and a tal. Her comments echoed opin- couple of books. I did not know ions that many of us have held many people at all. for years. “We know the Con-

ever. The club has now grown into the largest student club on campus. This is the 18th year of the weekly 420 circles at the University of Victoria, the only school in the world with such a tradition.

As soon as I started to advocate for better cannabis policies I began meeting patients who needed the herb to have any quality of life. Then I met a young lady who made cookies, brownies, salves and massage oils using cannabis.

I learned about how beneficial they were for AIDS patients in

particular, and it became clear to me that the medical uses of cannabis would tip the scales in favour of legalization. In the fall of 1995 we held the first ever International Medical Marijuana Day in Victoria, for which I made my first ever presentation to city council; the stage was set.

Within months I founded the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club, handing out a pamphlet with my pager number on it. Doing deliveries out of a van for a few months was okay, but the organization became much more functional when I got an apartment downtown on Johnson St. During a police raid on another apartment we were told to get a storefront, so on April 1, 2001 we opened Ted’s Books two blocks down the street. We operated the club from a room in the back until police raids forced us to close the bookstore. Then we changed our signage to read: “Under Renovations.” It remains so to this day.

Within a year of beginning my activism I had written and published the first Hempology 101 textbook. Though it was lacking in several key areas,100 copies of the first edition were printed in 1996 on hemp paper, and bound by hand with hemp twine, like a bracelet. A few years later, in 2000, another 100 copies were printed, again on hemp and bound by hemp twine. It was reprinted again in 2001, soon after opening Ted’s Books.

After a long wait and an almost total overhaul, HEMPOLOGY 101: THE HISTORY AND USES OF CANNABIS SATIVA was finally published like a regular book in 2012. The fourth edition is a beautiful book, packed full of information and pictures. However so much has happened in the last few years

Issue Number 46 that we hope to sell the rest of this edition soon so we can publish a new one which includes the historical Owen Smith victory at the Supreme Court of Canada.

www.CannabisDigest.ca

on the streets, and created the world’s only cannabis gameshow, REACH FOR THE POT. We still host several unique events throughout the year, making Victoria one of the most active Meanwhile at the University of places in the world for cannabisVictoria, the Hempology 101 themed celebrations. club started annual conventions in 1999, and when I was allowed Between 2002-03, the VCBC back on campus after my arrest, I was raided four separate times began teaching a free, non-cred- by the Victoria police. When it lecture series. Over the years it became clear that we needed Hempology 101 has had student a means to update the members clubs at Vancouver Island Uni- about the ongoing court cases and versity, Camosun College, Medi- the new federal medical cannabis cine Hat College in Alberta, and regulations, Gayle suggested at a Mount Allison University in New meeting that we create a newsletBrunswick. The only one that ter and the Cannabis Digest was has continued operating outside born. The first issue was simply a of Victoria is the one at UBC in folded photocopy to make it look Vancouver, which is still together like 4 pages. But it was enough and quite active. Unfortunately, to get the joint rolling. my lover, Gayle Quin, has become so sick with cancer that I After a few years of putting out have withdrawn from much of the paper locally, and after Owen my work with Hempology 101, Smith was arrested in the bakery and now primarily focus on local of the VCBC in 2009, it seemed rallies held in Victoria. we had the means, motive and opportunity to create a national At the weekly Wednesday night newspaper. Since Cannabis Culmeetings that we have held in ture has stopped printing, there public for over 12 years, we have were no publications focused on developed many enjoyable ways what was happening in Canada. to share important information Under the direction of Andrew about cannabis, and have fun. We Brown, we launched the Cannahave held cannabis contests, sold bis Digest into print form, and potent cookies, marched around began making a serious attempt town with our banners and flags, both to distribute it across the hot-boxed several government country, and to attract advertisers buildings, sung cannabis carols to pay for it.

At first the paper was heavily subsidized by the VCBC, but over time we have been able to secure more advertisers, and gradually improve our distribution network. While it has been a struggle to attract good writers, especially when we stopped being able to afford to pay anyone, the paper’s consistency and professionalism has encouraged many excellent contributors to join our team. We are very proud to publish the leading cannabis publication in Canada, and look forward to watching how the paper grows with the industry in the next few years.

39 we have been publishing blogs almost every single day, drawing over 1/2 million viewers in the first year. However we have not put a lot of effort into drawing in online advertisers, and there is a great potential for us to make a lot of money and attract new readers, especially if we break into the exploding USA markets.

With so many amazing accomplishments over the last 20 years, and so many incredible advancements towards to full legalization of cannabis, the International Hempology 101 Society has a great deal to celebrate. Despite all of the personal, legal, and economic challenges our organization has faced, we have grown stronger, wiser and more determined than ever to see this plant fully embraced by the world. A huge thanks goes out to everyone who has helped us in this incredible journey.

Of course, most of you will know how important Owen’s trial has been to the VCBC, the International Hempology 101 Society, the Cannabis Digest, and the movement at large. A few years after the arrest, Owen took over the graphic design of the paper and Judith Stamps became the editor. This transition allowed Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em.

Owen to expand his network and skills, giving him an opportunity to get off the front line and share his story. Now that his case has changed Canadian law, many want to join our team as we carry on towards legalization.

Our presence on the internet actually started with a web page in 1995. For the last year and a half

Cannabis Digest â&#x20AC;˘ Fall 2015

1GaryJohnsone,2)JackLayton,3)BillClinton,4)BrianTaylor,5)BarackObama,6)BernieSanders,7)ThomasJefferson,8)NewtGingrich,9) JustinTrudeau,10)JohnFKennedy,11)GeorgeWashington,12)KathleenWynne,13)ArnoldSchwarzeneggar,14)RobFord,15)GeorgeWBush, 16)SarahPalin,17)JesseVentura,18)TomMulcair,19)AlGore,20)JebBush

Crossword Answers Check out Georgiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website to see some of her other comics, read her blog, and help her spread the good word by picking up a copy of her book of the Happy Hippie comics.

TOKING POLITICIANS

HEMPOLOGY 101 CROSSWORD Issue Number 46

41

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Cannabis Digest • Fall 2015

CANNABIS CLUBS ACROSS CANADA

Cannabis dispensaries in Canada, due to a lack of regulation, all operate under unique and individual mandates. As such, the membership requirements of each dispensary differ. We recommend travelling with a copy of your original proof of condition (doctor’s note) which the VCBC staff will be happy to provide to its’ members. It is also recommended to research the dispensaries in the region you will be visiting and try to establish contact, if possible, before your visit. Please be discreet and polite when contacting another dispensary—you are representing the VCBC too!

Keep in mind: Some dispensaries have problems with supply and accessibility. The VCBC cannot guarantee that another dispensary will have supply or accept your card as proof of condition. Please help grow this network and support your local clubs by encouraging quality gardeners to direct their product to local dispensaries, or by growing yourself.

British Columbia VICTORIA CANNABIS BUYERS’ CLUB (VCBC) 826 Johnson St., Victoria Tel: 250-381-4220 Email: hempo101@gmail.com www.v-cbc.ca NORTH ISLAND COMPASSION CLUB Tel:250-871-5207 OCEAN GROWN MEDICINAL SOCIETY 1725 Cook St Unit 1, Victoria Tel: 778-265-1009 VANCOUVER ISLAND COMPASSION SOCIETY 853 Cormorant St., Victoria Tel:250-381-8427 Fax: 250-381-8423 NANAIMO MEDICAL CARE CLUB 14 Lois Lane, Nanaimo Tel: (778) 441-0141 nanaimomedicalcareclub.com BC COMPASSION CLUB SOCIETY 2995 Commercial Drive, Vancouver Tel:604-875-0448 Fax: 604-875-6083 website: www.thecompassionclub.org GREEN CROSS SOCIETY OF B.C. 2127 Kingsway, Vancouver Tel: 778-785-0370 Fax:778-785-0477 www.greencrossofbc.org VANCOUVER MEDICINAL CANNABIS DISPENSARY 880 East Hastings St. Tel: 604-255-1844 Fax: 604-255-1845 West End location: 1182 Thurlow St. www.cannabisdispensary.ca YALETOWN MEDICAL DISPENSARY 1281 Howe St., Vancouver TEL: (604) 566-9051 FAX: (604) 558-2879 www.yaletownmedicaldispensary.com VAN CITY MEDICINAL SOCIETY 1594 Kingsway, Vancouver Tel: (604) 875-0002 Email: vcmsofficial@gmail.com T.A.G.G.S 11696 - 224th St., Maple Ridge, BC Tel: 604-477-0557 Fax: 604-477-0575 Email: taggs420@live.com PHOENIX PAIN MANAGEMENT SOCIETY 321 Wallace St, Nanaimo 778-441-2661

BUDDHA BARN 2179 West 4th Avenue Vancouver, 604-739-9456, buddhabarn.ca MED POT NOW SOCIETY 4170 Fraser St. , Vancouver Tel: (604) 569-2119 www.medpotnow.com THE HEALING TREE 529 East Hastings St., Vancouver Tel: 604-569-1091 www.hdcvan.ca REDMED 231 Abbott St., Vancouver Tel: 604-559-9444 CANNA CLINIC 758 East Broadway, Vancouver Tel: 604-558-2454 PACIFIC CANNAMED SOCIETY 1259 Kingsway, Vancouver Tel: 604-558-3225 8546 Granville St., Tel: 604-563-3250

EDEN MEDICINAL SOCIETY 161 E. PENDER, Vancouver Tel: 604-568-9337 637 E. HASTINGS, Vancouver Tel: 604-568-9337 www.myeden.ca GRASSROOTS BOTANICALS WELLNESS COOPERATIVE 4730 Willingdon ave, Powell River Tel: 604-485-6636 Fax: 604-485-2458 www.grassrootscannabisdispensary.com KOOTENAYS MEDICINE TREE #4 1948 68 Avenue, Grand Forks 250-442-8248 www.kootenaysmedicinetree.ca

Alberta M.A.C.R.O.S. 4121-118 Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta Tel: 780-457-6824 Website: www.macros.ca

Ontario

SUNRISE MEDICAL FOUNDATION 258 W Broadway 604-877-0211 www.mysunrise.ca

CANNDO Phone: 416-901-7095 Fax; 416-901-7018 Email: Info@CannDo.ca

THE GREEN RHINO 2570 Granville 1-888-661-5557 www.thegreenrhino.ca

C.A.L.M. Toronto, Ontario Tel: 416-367-3459 Fax: 416-367-4679 Website: www.cannabisclub.ca

NELSON COMPASSION CLUB #203-602 Josephine St. Nelsom, BC Tel: 250-354-4206 Email: nelsoncompassion@yahoo.ca BE KIND OKANAGAN GROWERS AND COMPASSION CLUB. 288 Hwy. #33 West Rutland, BC (Kelowna) Tel: 778-753-5959 Fax: 778-753-5755 Vernon Location: www.okanagancompassionclub.com WESTCOAST MEDICANN 2931 Cambie St., Vancouver, BC. Tel: 604-558-2266 www.westcoastmedicann.com PAIN MANAGEMENT SOCIETY 2137 Commercial Drive. Vancouver Tel: 604-215-4551 Fax: 1-888-684-6906 www.painmanagementsociety.org

TORONTO COMPASSION CENTRE Tel: 416-668-6337 Fax: 416-461-7116 www.torontocompassioncentre.org RAINBOW MEDICAL CANNABIS CANADA Toronto, Ontario Tel: 416-927-8639 www.rainbowmedicinalcannabis.ca MEDICAL COMPASSION CLINIC 125 Church St. Toronto Ontario M5C 1S1 Tel: 647-291-0420 www.medicalcompassionclinic.com

Maritimes THCC—FARM ASSISTS Tel: (902) 495-0420 http://thccsociety.wix.com/home

*To add your club to this list, please contact: editor@cannabisdigest.ca

Issue Number 46

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WARNING

E BRITANNIQUE - CANADA DUTY PAI

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