Cannabis Digest Issue 49 - Summer 2016

ISSUE #49 FREE

Task

Force

P.15

Project

Claudia

Center

Jamaica

P.1 7

Rises

Issue Number 49

www.CannabisDigest.ca

ISSUE # 49 SUMMER 2016 CREDITS Publisher

Ted Smith <hempo101@gmail.com>

Editor-in-Chief

ARTICLES

Judith Stamps <editor@hempology.ca>

Graphics Editor

Owen Smith <rainbowensmyth@gmail.com>

Dispensing Licenses....................................P.03

Dieter Macpherson <dietermacpherson@gmail.com>

Editor/Publisher Notes.................................P.05

Jenn Gurak <cannabis.digest.advertising@gmail.com>

Demons of Absolute Control........................P.07

Web Editor

Advertisements

Timeline on Trudeau......................................P.11

Contributors Ted Smith Judith Stamps Owen Smith Ras Kahleb (Jamaica) Russel Barth (Pottawa) Tracy Lamourie Johnny Dupuis Reverend C.H. Lawson Bert Easterbrook Evan Laine Georgia Toons

Cover by Kalon King

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

House of the Great Gardener........................P.13 BattleGround BC...........................................P.15 Jamaica Rises...............................................P.17 Working at a Dispensary...............................P.19 Troubles in Toronto..............................CENTER Medicine Woman...........................................P.23 Adam GreenBlatt's Story..............................P.26 Compassion in the Capital...........................P.29 Making an E-Liquid........................................P.34 Kirk Tousaw...................................................P.35 Memorials..........................................P.37

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 countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s laws, and/or talk to their doctors, before engaging in any activities that could be deemed as illegal or dangerous to oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health.

Issue Number 49

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Dispensing Licenses:

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Victoria Creating Best Cannabis Bylaws In Canada and apparently as many as 22 dispensaries closed voluntarily after a warning letter was issued. Vancouver and Toronto officials have also been sending letters to landlords threatening large fines if they continue to allow illegal activities in their buildings.

Ted Smith efusing to follow VanR couver’s harsh ban on cannabis edibles, Victoria City

“Our staff and council were was compelled,” mayor Lisa Helps told CTV news. “We heard loud and clear from many people who came to the town hall we held, particularly from seniors, and particularly from senior women, that they have chronic pain and they A ban on edibles in Vancou- don’t want to smoke marijuana. ver has also had a huge impact They want access to edibles.” on the industry, as many small businesses were forced to close There are close to 40 cannalast year when the city first an- bis stores openly operating in nounced its intentions. Topi- Victoria, and many are within cals, extracts, suppositories 200 meters of another dispenand vegetable oil infusions are sary, which is prohibited by one still available for sale, but an of the bylaws. Unlike Vancouincredible variety of products ver, the City of Victoria will be

Council has decided to allow cannabis dispensaries to sell products that meet basic food standards. While the amendments passed have not been made public due to some delays, Victoria City Council also voted to allow deliveries and mail order, and to allow some dispensaries to provide a space for patients to consume their medicine. However, there is grave concern that the federal government’s legalization scheme will not respect the municipalities that have created a licensing system, making these licenses feel (Patients sharing edibles at the V-CBC) more like a temporary reprieve were forced off the shelves reviewing the applications one than a final step. last summer, leaving patients at a time in a public variance The City of Vancouver has in Vancouver with far fewer hearing, though it is uncertain been very aggressive towards choices if they wish to take how they will decide by what dispensaries in the language their cannabis orally. Driven order of dispensaries they will and tone it has employed in by the Coastal Health Author- proceed. There are a number of its regulations, turning down ity, the City of Vancouver has dispensaries that have recently 140 of the initial applications, been far more concerned with opened in the downtown core, while accepting less than one potential risks than medical and it will be interesting to see how the city deals with them. dozen. Instead of embracing benefits., What does seem clear is that and acknowledging the older Victoria is like night and day the Victoria Cannabis Buyers clubs in town, Vancouver denied all of the established dis- compared to Vancouver on this Club and the Vancouver Island Compassion Society will pensaries a license in the ini- matter. be given special status for betial stage of the process. The For now, the staff and meming non-profit societies that first dispensary to get a license, The Wealth Shop, had bers of the Victoria Cannabis have been openly operating for not even opened for business Buyers Club can celebrate, well over 10 years. before receiving their golden knowing we are likely to be It does not appear as though ticket. It was only by fight- the first dispensary in the city ing with the Board of Variance to obtain a license to operate that organizations like the BC without having to change any Compassion Club Society, the major part of its programs.

Vancouver Medicinal Canna- While we are not absolutely bis Dispensary and the Pain guaranteed to be able to conManagement Society have tinue having a safe inhalation been able to get through the room, it appears very likely first stage of the licensing pro- that several city councilors intend to do everything poscess.. sible to ensure our club can Meanwhile, the second old- continue to operate as it curest club in Vancouver, the rently exists without any major Green Cross Society of BC, changes. Our many years of has been turned down at ev- hard work educating the Vicery stage of the process, with toria City Council certainly city bylaw issuing several fines paid off, though the number of for operating without a li- people who became involved in cense. Vancouver has issued the process also forced them to tickets to at least 44 dispensa- consider the full consequences ries, which cost $250 per fine, of these bylaws.

the City of Victoria is trying to determine whether a dispensary requires information from a medical professional for a member to join, or if they simply allow someone to join if they are older than 19 and swear to have a health problem for which they require cannabis. So far it appears as if the city is only interested in making sure youth do not have easy access to a cannabis club, and that certain other rules about signage and advertising are obeyed. The bylaw restricting advertising does not apply to publications like the Cannabis Digest.

If the City of Victoria is prepared to issue licenses to dispensaries that do not require medical documentation, older clubs like the VCBC with more conservative mandates will be tempted to make it easier to join. It would be frustrating to watch the VCBC struggle to survive because it only served patients suffering from serious medical problems, while other new businesses cash in on the opportunities we have helped create. If this is a direction the club goes, we will no doubt always give discounts and special services to patients with permanent physical disabilities and diseases.

While compassion clubs have traditionally helped people in serious chronic pain, over the last few years the public’s understanding of the medical uses of cannabis has increased dramatically. The public is beginning to accept that cannabis can help with stress disorders, appetite, sleeping and ADHD, as well as a host of other medical problems, with few negative consequences. But the time of traditional compassion clubs seems to be coming to an end with legalization, and we need to evolve.

Cannabis Digest • Summer 2016

If the VCBC hopes to remain as it is, with a full range of edible and topical products along with a variety of locally grown herb by small mom and pop suppliers, then it will need to join the majority of dispensaries that are fighting their way into the recreational market. Medical users will always have the choice whether or not to use a dispensary, but eventually LPs will have storefronts, and insurance companies will be covering much of the costs for them. The only way the VCBC could be a legitimate part of any future legal medical system would be if it only sold products produced

by LPs. The best system would be one where the requirements for LPs were eased enough that the club’s current growers could easily qualify, but that is unlikely to happen any time soon.

There is a lot of concern that legalization will eliminate the MMPR and force patients to purchase their medicine without giving them a chance for it to be prescribed and therefore covered by health care. Doctors do not want to learn about cannabis and its various applications, and LPs are champing at the bit to make big profits

from the recreational market.

Patients like my love, Gayle Quin, will gain nothing from this form of legalization, but it is a likely scenario, and we must prepare for it.

The Provincial Government of BC is in a unique position, as none of the other provinces has an established dispensary scene that could easily be used as the framework for legalizing recreational sales in the province. The only hangup appears to be supply, which could be easily solved if the province makes simple regu-

lations for recreation growers that encourage the development of a craft industry, thereby allowing the existing clubs to merge smoothly into the legal system. If we are able to convince the BC Government to license small growers, then we will continue to operate the same as we have for years, otherwise the club will be forced to sell products made by LPs if it is to remain open.

Victoria. One dream I would like to share is that the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club will have a hospice set up in the country with a nice big garden of food and medicine. We could have patients come sit in the garden, making it possible for their beds to get outside, getting fresh cannabis juice and other medicines made on the site. Students from neighbouring schools could help maintain the gardens and learn There are a lot of ‘ifs’ and about making plant medicines. many more questions to be answered about the future of At this point, though, we the VCBC and dispensaries in are still waiting for the second draft of the bylaws, as some changes to city staff have slowed down the process. The sharp contrast in the treatment our club is receiving compared to others in Vancouver and Toronto only makes the process we are experiencing in Victoria that much more fair.

Whatever the future holds in store for the VCBC we can be certain that the world will be watching as we help lead the fight for fair cannabis regulations.

(A packed House at Victoria City Hall)

Issue Number 49

www.CannabisDigest.ca

E D I TO RS NOTE : Security hooked. Especially intoxicated are Toronto police who, when they see a dispensary, have taken to bringing out the riot gear.

Equally intoxicated are the majority of mayors and city councils across the country.

Judith Stamps e live in over-securitized W times: drones, cameras, sur veillance in social me-

dia, tightened national borders.

The 21st Century imagination is obsessed with terrorist plots, real and imagined, mirroring the late 17th and early 18th Centuries’ obsession with witches and secret societies. We encrypt our messages. We invest in better locks, and alarm systems. We fear immigrants, and things too foreign. In moderation, to be sure, security is a fine thing. But moderation belongs to another era. We live in extremes; in this world security is an intoxicant.

Governments, the military, the RCMP, and many police forces, along with mainstream media and their audiences—they’re all

the Kids. You must wait until the battle stations are in place.

They will Beat the Criminals, and Protect the Kids. The longer this scene plays out, the more it reads like a demented volume of Mother Goose. Ding dong dell.

The baker’s in the well. Who’ll It is thus no wonder that, as the pull her out? Actually, no one.

Liberal Government prepares to Pulling her out will not Beat the draft cannabis laws, it seems in- Criminals or Protect the Kids. terested in nothing but security.

As an aid to maintaining this foBut security does nothing cus, it has adopted two mantras: to sustain the spirit. It is not Beat the Criminals; Protect the enough for human beings to Kids. Trudeau and his staff have be kept secure, whatever that taken to repeating these each means. Security does not make time their methods come under life meaningful. For that we fire. Mr. Trudeau, we say, now need autonomy, and we need that you plan to legalize, why personal freedom. We need to don’t you stop arresting people? participate. We need a place in We can’t, is the response, it won’t the industry. Why? Because we Beat the Criminals and Protect the Kids. Well, say the New Democrats, we could just decriminalize for the time being.

Why saddle people with criminal records? Shouldn’t we be protecting all Canadians? Nope.

It won’t Beat the Criminals, and Protect the Kids. Okay, say industry representatives, how about offering the dispensaries some protection? After all, they provide medicines not available through the currently licensed producers. Nah. That won’t Beat the Criminals, or Protect

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alone understand that Cannabis, above all things, is something to be enjoyed, and celebrated. We understand that it is, in addition, a superb medicine. A super-securitized system will recognize none of those qualities. This is a crucial time for activists. Do take time, therefore, to fill in the Liberals’ questionnaire. Send them emails. Phone them. They need to hear that security is not enough, and they need to hear it from as many people as possible.

Also, enjoy Issue 49 of the Cannabis Digest. It’s full of good info, and great rants.

Editor@Hempology.ca

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Cannabis Digest â&#x20AC;˘ Summer 2016

PUBLISHERS NOTE: Dispense the Digest! an accurate list of dispensaries in Canada, with current information in the paper and menu online.

Ted Smith his coming fall, everyone T with the Cannabis Digest will be proud to be getting

ready to print the publicationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 50th issue. With so much happening in the cannabis scene, it is exciting to have the opportunity to document the changes as we shift from prohibition to legalization. We feel our newspaper has a special place in the Canadian cannabis movement, and want to improve our publication to keep pace with the moving landscape.

As of today, any dispensary that chooses to advertise in Cannabis Digest will get a listing in the paper, plus a bundle of 50 papers delivered to their club. For dispensaries with multiple storefronts, we charge additional $20 for every extra listed address, and deliver an additional bundle of 50 newspapers to that address. All dispensaries who advertize with us online, and all those paying to be listed in the newspaper, will be included in our on-line directory, linked to our main website.

ing out to our readers. If you can approach the management of a dispensary with this offer on our behalf, you will be helping the newspaper, helping patients to gain access to clubs, and doing your part to bring the Cannabis Digest to new places. Of course it is our hope that all of our readers already feel they are benefitting.

presence and the print copy.

If you have any suggestions, please feel free to email them to me or otherwise let me know what you are thinking. It is impossible to fulfill everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ideas and dreams with this paper, but CD is certainly the result of many people contributing, and we like to think we are flexible and ready to evolve as this new era of cannabis legalWhile we do not blame the ization dawns upon us.

Licensed Producers for the problems with the Marijuana Publishing the Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regula- Digest for over 10 years and tions, we certainly know that reaching issue 50 will be one of dispensaries provide a better the great accomplishments of opportunity for patients to ac- my career thus far. As we precess the products and services pare for this milestone, please they require. Even if we want- consider joining our team by ed to work with LPs, federal helping us distribute and share laws prohibit them from adver- our work to those who might tising with us. Until such time not have access to the internet, as the regulations restricting or lack the time to search out who can legally grow and sell this valuable information. By cannabis are improved to allow working together we can help easy access to small produc- the Cannabis Digest lead the ers, this newspaper will focus way towards a brighter future on dispensaries and the people for the cannabis community. fighting for the right to grow, sell and use cannabis without overly-restrictive laws.

One of the most important things we need to do is change the directory for dispensaries in Canada. When we started the Cannabis Digest there were only a handful of clubs in the country, and since many appeared to be poorly managed, we waited for a while before adding a new club to the back page. It was important for us to know that any compassion club listed in our paper had good customer services, acceptable products, and reasonable membership requirements.

This offer gives dispensaries an opportunity to gain exposure while providing their members with current information about issues that matter to patients and their caregivers. To this end, we are doing our best to keep prices down to make it affordable for people to do business with us. Since the Cannabis Digest was originally a newsletter for In addition to enhancing our the Victoria Cannabis Buyers directory, we will be making Club, there has always been a changes to both our on-line focus on the legal and political issues that clubs face. The intent of this publication has always been to provide upto-date information about the evolving cannabis scene. By helping link people to dispensaries, the Cannabis Digest will be a valuable resource for everyone in this industry.

In the last few years the number of dispensaries has exploded in Canada, with estimates of storefront operations between 350 and 400. Obviously we only have a fraction of them listed in the paper, and that is the first thing we want to change. While we cannot hope to get everyone listed, with your help we will gather

Our paper has few employees, and relies on volunteer writers and distributors. Thus in order for this change in advertizing policy to be successful, we need help connecting with new dispensaries, and reconnecting with older ones. Simply put, we cannot possibly contact all of the dispensaries currently operating. Thus we are reach-

Issue Number 49

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The Demons of Over-Regulation

7

The Problems with Cannabis Regulation and Absolute Control

Judith Stamps

tributor executes a contract with a manufacturer. Every manufacturer, too, will have to hand his/her medicine to a distributor, who will send samples to a lab. If they pass, the distributor executes a contract between the manufacturer and dispensers. If there are more steps in the chain, there are that many more trips to and from distributors. The labs, the distributors, and whatever else is needed to maintain the MMRSA, are to be paid for through an assessment of a 1535% tax on the product at each

I

have begun to suspect that that the minds of some contemporary regulators are under the control of demons. I offer the following examples.

Example One In September 2015, the State of California passed the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (MMRSA), a comprehensive State licensing system. The Act requires the State to establish new agencies, and for this process, two years is the estimated time. So, although the MMRSA is now law, it will be in effect only in 2018. Meanwhile California medical cannabis activists are readying themselves for a fight.

The MMRSA establishes a set of official distributors, and a set of official labs. If this system is allowed to stand, it will work as follows. Every grower will have to hand his/her cannabis to a distributor, who will send samples to a lab. If the end product is bud, and it passes inspection, the distributor executes a contract between the grower and dispensaries. If the end product is infused oils or edibles, the dis-

point in this series. The new system will easily double, and possibly triple the cost of medical cannabis in California. Patients will not be able to afford this increase, and will need to find underground sources. If they do so in sufficient numbers, the legal supply system will collapse.

This plan has been called greedy. It certainly is that. It is also indiscriminate, as dispensaries that have adequate in house labs, and who regularly sell excellent, well tested medicine, must still bear the cost of another lab. But the problems don’t stop there. The MMRSA is an attempt to exert absolute control over California’s medical cannabis supply chain. Abso-

lute control differs dramatically from ordinary control. Ordinary control can be achieved through voluntary systems of negotiation and compromise between players in an industry. Absolute control can’t be achieved at all; and where the attempt is made, it is destructive. The plain fact is: absolute control is a demon; its proponents are compelled to destroy what they are building. Put simply, they are possessed.

they were not regulated, and did not pay taxes. But they worked.

Patients got affordable medicine, and were generally happy.

In 2011 a Bill to legalize and regulate the dispensaries passed in both the State Senate and the House, with bi-partisan support. But the Governor vetoed it. At the same time the State approved Initiative I-502 to legalize cannabis for recreational purposes. When the Initiative passed in 2012, the State handed control to the Liquor Board.

When sales opened in 2013, the Liquor Board began to gripe.

It resented competing with the garden/dispensaries, and has lobbied successfully to eliminate them.

It is possible in Washington State to apply to the Liquor and Cannabis Board for a license.

But the requirements will certainly rule out garden collectives. They give priority to shops that have been paying taxes, and are on record as having applied in the past for an I-502 recreational license. As of April 2015, Example Two 1900 applications for licenses had been submitted, and none Medical cannabis dispensa- granted. ries in Washington State have been ordered to close by July the The new law exempts patients 1st. That’s just a few days away. from sales tax, but imposes a In April 2015, the State passed new 37% excise tax, sharply inSenate Bill 5052. This Bill per- creasing the cost of their medimits only recreational dispensa- cine. It also reduces drastically ries, licensed through the newly how much they can grow and formed Liquor and Cannabis store. Like its California cousin, Board. Some dispensaries, how- this plan is greedy and indisever, will carry medicinal prod- criminate. It is also an attempt ucts. at absolute control; its writers are possessed, hell-bent on drivWashington State has had ing the trade back underground. a medical cannabis law since 1998. In recent years patients Example Three have been permitted to join collective cannabis gardens— When in 2014 Health Canin practice, dispensaries. These ada established its Marihuana outlets functioned informally; for Medical Purposes Regula-

Cannabis Digest • Summer 2016

tions (MMPR), soon to be extinguished, it handed Canadian doctors the responsibility to prescribe or recommend cannabis to their patients. In English Canada this event created confusion and hostility. Doctors were unprepared to recommend a medicine they’d never studied, and few were willing to participate. In Quebec matters proceeded differently. The Quebec College of Physicians created a patient registry; in Quebec, to obtain legal cannabis patients must sign up, and agree to take part in ongoing cannabis research. Much of this research is conducted at McGill University’s Health Centre, overseen by medical expert and researcher, Dr. Mark Ware.

Progress has been slow. Of the 160 doctors who have applied to participate, only 23 have been authorized. And of the 3,000 or more patients in Quebec, only 500 have joined. Everyone loves research. But few want to be forced into it. Spokespersons from Quebec College of Physicians say they are not looking forward to legalization, as legalization will improve access to cannabis, and compromise the registry. Here the will to control negates the ‘do no harm’

rule. These doctors must be pos- required to grow plants indoors sessed. in a sterile environment, tending them in sterilized white monkey Example Four suits, caps, and facemasks. A single spider mite or undesirable Canada’s Federal Liberals, now microorganism introduced into in power, are working on a plan such an environment will creto revamp the medical mari- ate havoc in hours; it will have juana rules, and to legalize can- no competition. The regulators nabis for recreational use. They were possessed by a cleanliness will present the medical plan in demon. This system of growlate August, and the recreation- ing cannabis is burdensome and al-use Bill in the spring of 2017. expensive, and produces mediMeanwhile they have rejected a cines no one can afford. It also Bill to decriminalize in the in- produces the occasional spot of terim, meant to stop arrests. In- mold. There is no such thing as stead they have opted to allow absolute cleanliness. raids on medical dispensaries.

And they have opted to permit Absolute Tracking. In some arrests of individuals until the States regulations require every new Bill passes, probably some single cannabis plant to be latime in 2018. That’s two more beled and tracked from seed to years of government mandated sale. What if the new Trudeau misery.

Liberals try this? You have to wonder about such a plan. Do The Liberals want control over we track every tobacco plant timing. So deeply possessed are destined for the cigar factory? they, they have begun to speak Every grape destined for the in tongues. They have said, for wine maker? Every rye plant example, that they will be ar- destined for the distiller? Absoresting Canadians to protect the lute trackers of cannabis plants kids. Does this sound like Eng- are possessed. lish or French?

Absolute Obscurity. States Other Examples that have legalized have placed severe limits on advertising. BaAbsolute Cleanliness. Li- sically, it’s no ads. I’m not a fan cense Producers in Canada are of advertising, but a ban on ads

in an ad-crazed world will not work. Cannabis producers want the same privileges as beer, wine and whiskey producers. Absolute obscurity is demon’s dream.

Absolute Invisibility. Similarly, no regulator wants to allow patients and cannabis fans a space for public consumption.

No vape lounges, no cannabis in parks. The consumers are to make themselves absolutely invisible. But of course, they can’t.

There is no such thing.

The plain fact is, we are beset with governments possessed by demons of the absolute. It might be possible to conduct an exorcism with the aid of a few puffs of cannabis, and a mushroom or two. But given the personalities involved—prohibitionists at heart—this solution seems far off. A better plan is for activists to perfect their knowledge of spells. At the same time, they should fundraise for protests and court challenges. Cannabis will become legal when the demons have gone home.

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Issue Number 49

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Cannabis Digest â&#x20AC;˘ Summer 2016

Issue Number 49

www.CannabisDigest.ca

Judith Stamps

J

uly 2013: At a political rally in Kelowna BC Justin Trudeau announces that he is in favour of legalizing and regulating the sale of Cannabis in Canada; cheers all ‘round.

October 19, 2015: Trudeau wins a comfortable majority.

His platform includes legalizing and regulating cannabis.

Activists are cautiously optimistic.

Trudeau strives for gender parity in his cabinet. When asked why, he says: “Because it’s 2015.” World media celebrate. The phrase becomes a meme.

November 2015: Newly appointed Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould announces that she, the Minister of Health, and the Minister of Public Safety, are working on legalizing. She doesn’t say how.

11

A Timeline on Deciphering Trudeau

Vancouver and Kimberley vote who ordered these. Ottawa says to license and regulate them. nothing.

No comment from the feds.

BC and Ontario Liquor stores August 2015: Arrests for lobby to acquire the retail busicannabis possession continue, ness in recreational cannabis. and Canadians call on Trudeau Long, draggy, heated debates to decriminalize in the interim. follow.

He says: “Pot is still illegal in this country, and will be until January 2016: Bill Blair, MP we bring in a strong regulatory for Scarborough South West, framework,” and: “Decriminal- and former Toronto Police

as set out in the MMPR are ruled unconstitutional. The government is given six months to create a new set.

March 2016: Glitzy photographs of Trudeau, Obama, and respective families appear in Fashion.com.

Minister of Health Jane Philpott says: new medical cannabis legislation will be announced in August 2016. Patients have no idea what to expect. Dispensary owners and staff, small-scale growers, and cannabis medicine makers, all of whose livelihoods are at stake, have no idea what to expect.

The City of Victoria BC votes to license and regulate medical cannabis dispensaries. No comment from the feds.

April 2016: Trudeau appears on the cover of Gentlemen’s Quarterly wearing this quotation: “Justin Trudeau: That New Suave Canadian Leader Dude.”

The Health Minister makes an announcement to the UN Special Assembly on Drugs: In 2017, Canada will introduce legislation to regulate the sale of cannabis in Canada. She ofChief, is selected to be point fers no details. man on legalization.

Blair served on the police force for RCMP raids two medi30 years, and spent time on the cal cannabis dispensaries: one drug squad. To tens of thou- in Campbell River and one in sands of Canadians with can- Chilliwack. No comment from nabis related convictions, who the feds. have been lobbying, he says: The government at present is Jodie Emery asks to be added not considering pardons. to the task force. Blair’s response: no activists wanted on The media report that a task task force; they have their own force is being assembled. experts.

ization is a bad idea as it does not protect kids.” Umm…but arresting folk doesn’t do a thing for kids either, especially if the arrestees are their parents, or The City of Port Alberni, BC their relatives, or their friends, votes to license and regulate or their neighbours. medical cannabis dispensaries.

December 2015—January No comment from the feds.

2016: Canadians are treated to December 2015: Trudeau a year of silence: no one offers and his spouse appear in Vogue a clue to what is being considMagazine. The Trudeau family ered. is now a fashion item.

RCMP raids three dispensaFebruary 2016: Justice PhelArrests continue, but no reliries in Nanaimo BC. The Mayan rules in favour of Allard in able data.

June 2015: BC medical cannabis dispensaries expand in or says he had no control in the Allard v the Queen. Canada’s numbers. City Councils in matter. No one has figured out medical marijuana regulations

Cannabis Digest • Summer 2016 May 2016: Sixteen Licensed Producers create a new organization: Cannabis Canada. CC begins to lobby heavily against dispensaries. This organization appears to be an LP splinter group.

Blair adds force to the correlation by calling dispensaries “reckless.” The LPs, he says, are competing with “people who don’t care about the law, who don’t care about regulations,

Bill Blair visits the facilities of Licensed Producer, Bedrocan.

Inspired perhaps by terpenes, white Hazmat suits, facemasks, and security cameras, he announces that he now feels secure about the future of cannabis production in Canada. This announcement is insubstantial, but sounds bad for everyone except LPs. Toronto police raid 43 dispensaries, arrest 90 people and lay 186 charges. This is the biggest bust in Canadian history. The official reasons: 1. Not enough labels listing how many grams of THC the cookies contain; 2. Fifty to Sixty complaints by the general public. The population of metropolitan Toronto is 5, 583, 064, so that’s about 10 complaints per million.

Strong correlation noted by The Financial Post, The National Post, and The Huffington Post: “Multiple raids on dispensaries follow heavy lobbying by LPs.”

task to deal with variable THC “irrefutable science.” But that levels in cookies? was in 2005. She sits on the boards of NEXEN (Canadian For comic relief, Shoppers oil sands and shale gas) sold in Drug Mart, owned by Loblaw, 2013, under Harper, to China; lobbies to control retail sale AGRIUM INC., an agricultural giant; and CAMECO, the world’s largest publicly traded Uranium Company.

We learn that the ‘experts’ to be consulted will be public health officials, law enforcement officers, and addiction counselors. That sample doesn’t seem liberal.

don’t care about kids, don’t care about the health of Canadians.”

No one is saying who pulled the trigger here. No response from the feds.

of medical cannabis. This announcement is stunningly obtuse. Until now they’ve wanted nothing to do with this medicine.

BC Lawyer Kirk Tousaw flies to Ottawa for an impromptu meeting with Blair and others. The meeting is productive.

There are no further raids, and dispensaries begin to re-open.

Toronto police have likely figured out that the charges will not stick: dispensaries offer medicines not available from LPs, and no one will be able to demonstrate that dispensaries have done any harm. Do drug squads really believe it is their

June 2016: Liberal MP Anne McLellan is appointed head of the new task force on legalization. She will report to Blair.

McLellan has a law degree, and is a career Liberal cabinet minister. The rationale for her appointment: She has held portfolios on Health, Justice and Public Safety, the three ministries now in charge of legalizing. McLellan is on record for calling cannabis more carcinogenic than tobacco; she cited

Trudeau states: He is not interested in “a boutique industry,” meaning, a craft industry.

He wants only to keep kids safe, and criminals at bay. That’s austere. Sum up the above, and we have a prohibitionist approach to legalization, or something very like it. But that’s a guess; no one’s offering much of a picture.

Trudeau, like Harper, promised transparency. The events listed above appear to be his version, at least on cannabis. If the Canadian Leader Dude’s exercise in transparency continues in this way, expect years of slogging for activists, and mountains of work for lawyers.

Issue Number 49

www.CannabisDigest.ca

Mat Beren and House of the Great Gardener Pioneer Medicinal Cannabis Grower's Rise to Greatness all the red laser scopes dotting its hallway later that year, when the police raided the club. In a response similar to mine in 2009, Mat launched a constitutional court battle that would last 6 years. He was represented

by Kirk Tousaw, an expert in constitutional law. Tousaw was also my counsel.

comeback. House of the Great Gardener has recently released CBD René, the latest in a project geared toward creating flavourful, CBD rich cannabis.

They make CBD Caramels that have received positive feedback from dispensary members for their non-psychoactive medicinal effects.

emption as an inadequate response to the Supreme Court of Canada ruling in my case earlier this year. As in 2009, when Health Canada side-stepped the court’s order from his trial, H.C. has re-introduced arbitrary restrictions, such as a low-dose limit, that will inevitably lead to further litigation in the courts.

Mat was given an absolute discharge (guilty but no criminal Owen Smith record). This precedent gave me some confidence when choosing (This article previously appeared to launch my own challenge in 2009. Health Canada was given at LiftCannabis.ca) a year to change the Medical Marihuana Access Regulations hen I was arrested and charged in 2009 for “trafficking THC” by making cannabis products for the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club (VCBC), I had a choice. I could choose either the short road, and strike some kind of plea bargain with the crown prosecution to have my charges reduced, or I could take the long road of a constitutional challenge to the medical cannabis regulations.

At the time, I was well aware of the travails of previous constitutional challengers who had safely found some light at the end of their long winding roads. The most recent example was the to allow for more than three litrial of R. v. Beren and Swallow. censed growers to share a facility, and for a licensed grower to proMat Beren attended a portion vide for more than one patient. of my trial in 2012, offering re- Health Canada responded in the assuring words with his relaxed most minimal way possible, aland friendly attitude. I recently lowing for four growers instead got to interview Mat on my bi- of three in the same space, and weekly talk radio slot at Time- for each grower to provide for two instead of only one patient.

4Hemp.

Mat has been collecting trophies from cannabis competitions across Canada and around the world. His “full melt dry sift” became world renown after winning 2nd place at the Amsterdam High Times cup. In collaboration with Bubbleman,

Mat laments that Licensed Producers are bound by Health Canada’s over-restrictive regulations. He applauds LPs for engaging in the move forward, and thinks that apart from prohibiting patients from growing their own, the MMPR has been a move in the right direction. Mat is currently protected by the Allard court injunction, and is keenly waiting with thousands of others to hear a decision from the judge on whether patients can retain their legal right to grow cannabis.

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The motto of Mat’s Ontario hometown is “High, Healthy and Happy.” In the Nineties, during his Shamanic drum work, he began to ponder deeply how he could help to make Cannabis a better plant. Mat became aware that cannabis was being grown largely for the purpose of making money. His intention to help people led him to focus his attention on improving the effects that cannabis has within our bodies. In 2002 Mat travelled west in search of a place to grow cannabis in order to make people feel better.

After growing his first crop, Mat went in search of a compassion club, and was directed to the Vancouver Island Compassion Society (VICS). He had eight strains, each labeled with a general profile of its medicinal effects. The next day, he began working for the VICS, and has been with them ever since.

In 2004, Mat collaborated with the VICS to help start the Vancouver Island Cannabis Therapeutic Research Institute (VICTRI). Mat can still remember

As Mat was already growing for 400 patients at the VICS, this did not strike him as an adequate response. In some ways R v Beren could be seen as foundational to the formation of the MMPR, which was introduced four years later, and has more thoroughly addressed the need for large production facilities and co-operation among growers.

After the trial Mat formed House of the Great Gardener to provide seeds to club members who may want to grow their own. Offering varieties that had been routinely tried and tested by club members, he has continued to cultivate strains that target particular needs based on feedback from the VICS. Mat now has an arsenal of cannabis genetics spanning the Sativa to Indica scale, and plunging deeply into CBD territory.

Mat believes that prohibition caused growers to breed CBD out of their cultivars in an attempt to maximize profitability.

As dispensaries emerged, focusing on feedback from medicinal users, CBD began to make its

he has since mastered more “dry sift” purification techniques.

Mat is an advocate of Rosin, which he makes using water hash in Tea Bags under the pressure and heat of a T-shirt press. He notes it can be made well enough with a digital hair straightener at 180F. He praises its smooth smoke, solvent free purity and short processing time, but acknowledges that the process loses terpenes. Because it avoids the use of “highly flammable solvents,” Rosin is one of the methods of concentration that is permitted to those protected under the Allard Injunction in Health Canada’s recent Section 56 exemptions.

Mat sees the Section 56 ex-

Mat’s story serves as an example of how larger-scale facilities can provide the quality of cannabis and, through patient feedback, improve the plant for everybody. Let’s hope Licensed Producers are taking notes. Mat believes that apart from being licensed by Health Canada and having much larger facilities (that would presumably reduce the price), LPs don’t have an advantage over home growers. Large scale facilities have to maintain an equal, if not greater level of scrutiny, at their grow sites to avoid the many difficulties that can occur when growing quality medicinal cannabis.

Mat has continued to blaze a trail many years after his road of trials came to an end.

Check out House of the Great Gardener online, and Listen to my interview with Mat Beren at Time4Hemp.

Time4hemp.com/pace-radio

Cannabis Digest â&#x20AC;˘ Summer 2016

Issue Number 49

www.CannabisDigest.ca

BattleGround BC

Why Legalization May Trump Craft Cannabis

operators to become part of the new scheme. Excluding those who have been working in the cannabis field for decades will bring massive problems.

The province cannot do much yet to prepare for implementing legalization. It must wait until the federal government’s task force, announced on the last day of June, completes its

activists, another person with a long history of supporting tough drug laws is leading this panel, Anne McLellan. “Ms. McLellan served four terms as the Liberal MP for Edmonton Centre, during which she was Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Minister of Health, Minister of Justice and Attor-

“QUOTE NEEDED”

Ted Smith eople that do not even P smoke cannabis know that BC has some of the best

herb in the world. For decades cannabis farmers have illegally used first hidden valleys, and then basement hydroponic setups to produce volumes of high grade herb. But with legalization on the cusp those days are soon coming to an end. Or are they?

At this stage the Province of British Columbia has a unique opportunity to create a flourishing cannabis industry. But it could go very sour. There is a lot of concern that Licensed Producers under the Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations will be the only legal growers under the new rules, and that government owned stores may be the only legal places to purchase cannabis products. If the cannabis community wants to have any hope of influencing the government’s direction; if we want to move away from models that benefit large corporations, and towards regulations that encourage a robust craft industry, then we need to start doing more than holding 420 rallies and opening dispensaries.

Recently I had tea with a few friends working in the provincial government. From that conversation it became clear to me that the cannabis culture that has lead the movement is not well prepared for the massive changes that are under way. As the government moves to legalize, new waves of entrepreneurs and investors are applying mounting pressure on politicians and bureaucrats to create laws that would tightly restrict who can grow and sell the herb. If the activists that fought so hard for legalization want a reasonable set of regulations, they need to make a sincere effort to make sure legalization allows formerly illegal

work in the fall. That task force is comprised mostly of law enforcement, doctors and lawyers, with the exception of outspoken anti-prohibitionist Dr Susan Boyd. Of course the federal government will not be bound to accept everything this panel suggests when it introduces legislation to legalize in the spring of 2017. Still, the recommendations will be highly persuasive.

“The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, supported by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and the Minister of Health, has created a Task Force on Marijuana Legalization and Regulation (“the Task Force”). The Task Force is mandated to engage with provincial , territorial and municipal governments, Indigenous governments and representative organizations, youth, and experts in relevant fields, including but not limited to: public health, substance abuse, criminal justice, law enforcement, economics, and industry and those groups with expertise in production, distribution and sales. The Task Force will provide advice on the design of a new framework. The Task Force will receive submissions from interested parties, including individual Canadians, consult widely, listen and learn, and commission any necessary focussed research to support its work. It is supported by a federal secretariat and will report back to the three Ministers on behalf of the Government in November 2016, on a date to be determined by the Ministers.” 1.

ney General of Canada and Minister of Natural Resources.” 1. The government website fails to mention that the company she now works for, Bennett Jones, has been hired by several LPs, clearly putting her in a conflict of interest.

Hopefully the rest of the task force will have a more open mind about the subject and be willing to take the time to listen to everyone who wishes to provide input into the process.

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There are several areas in which this task force needs to provide clear guidance. An example is the issue of driving after smoking or eating cannabis.

Indeed, some of the most important decisions will be made by the provinces. However, since no province but BC has a large existing industry ready to supply the recreational market, it appears likely that most other provinces will depend on LPs to supply government operated stores. The only province with a realistic chance of creating a system that includes and encourages a craft cannabis industry is BC. One of the reasons that a BC industry appears feasible is the proliferation and licensing of dispensaries in most major cities in the province. Though a few areas have resisted storefront operations, the cities of Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, and others are creating bylaws to allow the sale of cannabis, connecting many cannabis organizations more closely to their communities. While this helps dispensaries to get a foot in the door, it does not ensure that they will be included in the province’s upcoming legal scheme. For this reason the clubs need to work harder than ever.

The public has been given until Aug 29 to make written Dispensaries face a huge submissions to cannabis@can- challenge if they are to exist ada.ca. in their current form. Medical cannabis is likely to be strictly There is also surveys about controlled by the MMPR, even different components of legal- in provinces that allow the sale ization at of small scale producers outside of the MMPR. And LPs will s u r v e y s - s o n d a g e s . h c - s c . eventually be able to sell their gc.ca/s/Marijuana_Section1 products in storefronts of some type. Traditional compassion s u r v e y s - s o n d a g e s . h c - s c . clubs will either have to desert gc.ca/s/Marijuana_Section2 their mom and pop growers for an LP, or merge into the recres u r v e y s - s o n d a g e s . h c - s c . ational market, if possible. gc.ca/s/Marijuana_Section3 There an important job, hows u r v e y s - s o n d a g e s . h c - s c . ever, that the province can begc.ca/s/Marijuana_Section4 gin to tackle right now. It can start thinking about educating s u r v e y s - s o n d a g e s . h c - s c . the public about the various gc.ca/s/Marijuana_Section5 uses of cannabis. While drug education is generally a fedA concerted effort needs to eral matter, there is no doubt be made by the entire cannabis the public school system needs community to educate this task to prepare to teach kids about force about the wide range of cannabis and how to use it benefits a robust industry will properly. Unfortunately we provide and that any attempt can expect a new wave of proto tightly control the sale of paganda about the harms of cannabis will result in high cannabis on the youth, with a prices and a flourishing black focus on the dangers of conmarket. It is not clear if there suming cannabis before being will be any public hearings. fully mature.

Let us make our voices count, if we can.

If the federal government To the dismay of cannabis is serious about removing so-

Cannabis Digest â&#x20AC;˘ Summer 2016

called organized crime from the cannabis industry, it would be best off creating low barriers for people trying to enter the market. By allowing everyone interested in selling cannabis to get a license, the government will give the market the power to set the prices based upon supply and demand.

Giving opportunities for ordinary citizens to enter into the industry will push gangs out of the cannabis scene, and make room for good jobs with medical benefits.

Organized crime will only stop its involvement in the cannabis industry if the price drops 75-80%. Such a drop will only happen in a lightly regulated market. If the prices of cannabis for consumers remains even close to where they exist now, there will be a lot of incentive for those without licenses to continue growing and selling cannabis illegally.

When consumers are paying $2 or $3 per gram very few gangs will bother to keep working in the cannabis field. They will be forced to become legitimate business people, or to focus on other revenue sources.

Creating a strict regime to control the sale of cannabis will backfire on the Liberals.

If the task force is a hollow

show; if it is meant to give everyone the impression they listened to the public before they recommend no one but LPs can produce cannabis, then we will continue to see patients suffer, dispensaries raided, corporations take over, and organized crime make a lot of money.

What we really want to see is real dialogue, real cooperation.

What we fear is more struggle, disappointment and lost opportunity.

The federal government should be listening to the experience of those that know the most about this plant and its culture. Instead it is treating those working in the cannabis community like criminals until the very last minute. Is it planning to hand over control to large companies? It will be a shame to see the government create such tough new regulations that many of us continue to operate outside of the law, consuming vast and valuable legal resources, while minimizing the benefits cannabis has to offer. Many of us are making great efforts to inform the government about this plant, and we want nothing more than to help draft reasonable laws that ensure a bright future for government, industry, consumers and the general public.

1. healthycanadians.gc.ca/ health-system-systeme-sante/ consultations/legaliz ationmarijuana-legalisation/document-eng.php.

Issue Number 49

www.CannabisDigest.ca

Jamaica Rises From Legislation to Regulation

to construct interim regulations for Jamaica’s ganja industry, which were eventually delayed by what some Rasta’s call a ‘mystic change-of-government.’

In February of 2016 the Jamaican Labour Party ( JLP) was elected by the people, and surprisingly after election, some 14 of the original 16 members of the CLA body were still on board.

Ras Kahleb

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n 2015 Jamaica became the first Caribbean country to decriminalize cannabis, despite its obligation to international drug treaties and pressure from the US. Given the fascinating and popular musical culture associated with heavy uses of ganja, either through a chillum and steam pipe, or a big head spliff, this legislation, according to many, was long time overdue.

The Ganja Bill is what this new legislation was called, and it was Jamaica’s first legislation to acknowledge the Rastafari Community’s sacred use of Ital Herbal Sacrament. Under the Ganja Bill Jamaicans have the right to grow five plants in their households for traditional uses, which range from making teas to tinctures. The decriminalization of small quantities of ganja (2 ounces or less) was also a major feature of the the Ganja Bill. Critical to note is that this new legislation authorized the expunging of criminal records of those Jamaicans who were previously convicted for petty ganja offenses from as far back as the 1960’s.

As guided by scientific data from as early the 1960’s, the rebuke of Rastafari, and the work of lobbyists, Jamaica also legalized ganja for medical and scientific purposes, and sacramental rights were granted to the entire Rastafari Community in Jamaica. But although the Jamaican Ganja Industry had now been conceptualized, there remian issues in its operationalization because, until now, there were no rules to the game.

Soon after the Ganja Bill legislation was adopted, the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) was formed as a body to regulate Jamaica’s new Ganja Industry. This CLA body consisted of 16 members with diverse social and academic backgrounds, and included representatives of the Rastafari Community. The immediate task of the CLA was

In May 2016 the Cannabis Licensing Interim Regulations were published online, and discussed all throughout Jamaica’s social media. In June, to educate and further dialogue with the Jamaican people, the CLA in a collaborative effort with the Ganja Growers and Producers Association (GGPA), convened a series of talks throughout the island. According to Ras Iyah V, who is a member of the CLA, “these talks were also to

allow small farmers and other grass roots participants to make suggestions to the CLA, and to have an input in the further development of what is only an ‘Interim’ Regulations of the Jamaican Ganja Industry” (Coversation with Ras Iyah V, July 5 2016). So what are the interim regulations of the Jamaican Ganja Industry that the CLA has formulated, and what is its objective?

According to the CLA the objective of these Regulations is to provide for an interim licensing regime pursuant to the power conferred on the Cannabis Licensing Authority under section 9A (2) of the Act until more fulsome regulations are made under that section (Part 1. Preliminary, Interim Regulations of the CLA; cla website).

The application fees for licences are only quoted in US dollars and does vary. For an individual applicant the application fee is $300 whereas the application fee for a business, company, cooperative or friendly society licence is for $500. According to

the Regulations there are five categories of licenses that can be obtained. The categories of licences that can be applied for are: cultivator, processor, transport, retail and research and development. The cultivator and processor licence has tiers or categories; the prices for these licenses varies by the size of land. A Tier 1 cultivator licence is for $2000.00, and only allows the cultivation of up to a single acre of land, whereas a Tier 2 cultivator licence is for $2,500.00 for every 4,047 square metres, and a Tier 3 is for $3000.00 for every 4,047 metre. Then, a Tier 1 Processor licence is for $2,500.00 and a Tier 2 is for 10,000. Additionally, a transport licence is for 10,000$ for the first vehicle and a1000$ for each additional vehicle. The retail licence is for $2,500 (Herb House) and $2,500.00 for (Therapeutic

Services). A research and development licence is for $5000.00, and also includes analytical services (Cannabis Licensing Authority, Licence Application Form 2016).

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The basic costs for licences and application fees are not the only requirements for a licence, of course. Other requirements include proof of land ownership or legal permission (a consent form can be downloaded from the CLA website), a three year proof of residency, Certificate of Incorporation of the Business or Company, a Tax Compliance Certificate, and the criminal records of each Director of the company is also a necessary requirement. Although each requirement to obtain a ganja license is majorly important, the most basic requirement seems to be land, which is something that the average Jamaican does not have, and its always been this way.

This article now really needs to give a quick backdrop on the history of landlessness in Jamaica. It was the emancipation period 1834-1838 that led the former African enslaved people into the bush to settle. Whilst some joined existing free societies or Maroon Communities in the Highlands, others formed their own communities on British Crown Lands, and led a fierce agricultural movement that lasted until industrialization in early 20th century Jamaica. The mid-nineteenth century Land Vagrancy Laws of Jamaica were simply established to suppress the expansion of what was a growing competitive peasant economy. Penalties for capturing uninhabited Crown Land for agricultural and other purposes dramatically increased. The Morant Bay Rebellion of 1865 led by Prophet and National Hero Hon. Paul Bogle (peace be upon him) was as a result of the persistent pov-

Cannabis Digest • Summer 2016 erty and landlessness of the Af- right to vend ganja and ganja rican. products at major events that have received exemption from Today this landlessness in Ja- government. Since there have maica still exists, as most Jamai- only been three exempted cans do not own the land they events since Nov. 2014 til right live on, and some are squat- now, many ganjapreneurs argue ting on private and government that not enough events are belands. The illegal confiscation of 476 acres of sacred Heritage lands at Pinnacle during the 1950’s is a single example of how the Jamaican State has been undermining independent community development. To date, the Rastafari Community is still concerned about its landlessness, and despite the community’s significant cultural contribution to Jamaica, the survival of its indigenous culture is very much at stake. To some critics of the Ganja Bill and the Interim Regulation of the CLA, although Sacramental Rights for Rastafari were theoretically included in Jamaican ing exempted by government. legislation last year, the Interim To date Jamaica’s only ganja Regulation of this year has stra- exempted events have been The tegically left out any privileges Jamaica World Cannabis Cup, for poor indigenous groups. As Rebel Salute (Herb Curb) and for the Rastafari Community in Stepping High Ganja Festival. particular, Sacramental Rights Two of these three events were do not include the right to grow kept in Negril alone. ganja for sale, yet, sacramental ganja has always been traded In response to last year’s ganja among community members legislation, the Ministry of Inlocally and internationally. So dustry (which presides over the far the only benefits of Sacra- Companies Office of Jamaica), mental Rights have been the and the Jamaica Intellectual

Property Office (where trademarks are registered), have been experiencing an increase in number of applicants. Jamaicans are legally accessing lands, and are arranging these lands for the cultivatation or processing of ganja. Indeed, fences are

forming cooperatives for obtaining a licence to cultivate or process ganja.

Some small farmers have already confirmed their partnership with members of the international community who share their goals/aspirations, and with whom they perhaps already have friendships. With this wealth of traditional ‘knowledge capital’ now being balanced with ‘money capital,’ partnership between Jamaicans and internationals may be a practical solution, and a way forward in this Jamaican Ganja Industry. And while some are willing to wait to see how this new industry will unfold, others have grown anxious, especially since they have been waiting decades for this very moment in the history of the island. Clearly, it is ‘anxious early birds’ who are manoeuvring themselves strategically for the various ganja licenses, and who may be the actual and historical pioneers of a legal Jamaican Ganja Industry that will first make its impact on the local trade market until the world is ready to trade with Jamaica.

being erected on some traditional small farms in Westmoreland, and camera systems put in place for security purposes as basic CLA requirements. Important to note is that some traditional farmers would like to make the transition from growing ganja illegally to growing for legal purposes. Such farmers are keeping abreast of For more info on the Interim information that is in circula- Regulations of the CLA and/ tion within their ganja parish or application forms please visit associations, and are already the cla website.

Issue Number 49

www.CannabisDigest.ca

Working at a Dispensar y My Four Years at the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club

cookies, but I also enjoyed making salves, and infusing different herbs into various oils. I had spent four months at the Pacific Rim College in the Community Herbalist Program, so I would end up bringing in my own supplies, and stay at work late so I could try and develop new products.

My first job at the club was as a cannabis distributor. Working at the bakery helped me be able to explain all the bakery's products Evan Laine to the patients who wanted to use n June 6th, 2012, Ted them. Working at the club helped Smith asked me to come me to understand for whom I was into the Cannabis Buyers Club of making the medicine. At first I Canada. I had been asking Ted to hire me for half a decade. Every year on April 20th, I would bring him my latest cannabis infused creation. I would offer him muffins, cookies, brownies, or vegetarian pot-pie that I had baked, and ask him again if he needed anymore bakers for the cannabis dispensary he ran. It was a job that I wanted more than any other because I knew there would be none other like it, and this would be a career that allowed me to uphold my principles.

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When I got to the club Ted lit a joint the size of somebody's finger and passed it to me while explaining the job opportunity. Everyone who worked there made the same wage, which was two dollars per hour more than I was making at my job the time. Ted then told me about the benefits package, which included half of dental and medical bills, paid breaks, three weeks annual vacation, and an education fund to send staff members back to school. The shifts are nine and a half hours long; I got to do two days in the bakery and two days in the club every week. The point of having me work both places was that I could learn as much as possible about the operation. Ted also told me about the risks of being arrested or robbed, but I had already made up my mind and accepted the job offer.

The bakery was just a kitchen in the basement suite of a residential home but it was a nicer kitchen than what I had at my house. I took to memorizing the recipes of cookies and budda balls to try and produce as much as I could in the day. Most of the time there was only one baker on shift to produce the cannabis infused edibles and topical medicines for thousands of patients. I checked the bakery log, and tried to match the workload of the bakers before me. Some days were almost entirely spent filling vegetable capsules with infused oils like Ryanol or Cannoil. My favorite thing to do was to bake

provide security for the staff and patients dwelling within. At the front desk there was more time to talk about what was going on in the world, and in people's lives, because most people were more concerned about making a purchase while talking to the distributors. There were a lot of questions to answer in person and on the telephone about what we were doing and how illegal it was. I also took on the role of secretary at the monthly staff meetings, keeping notes for those who were absent.

of doctors who are sending their patients to us with recommendations for our specific products.

In October of 2012, Ted had to sell the club to the newly formed non-profit society, the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club. The Canada Revenue Agency heard how much product the Cannabis Buyers Club sold every month, and demanded their cut for sixteen years of back taxes, forcing Ted into bankruptcy. From that point on, all sales at the VCBC were tracked and taxed. Many of the club's patients can barely afIt wasn't long before I was asked ford their medicine but Harmonized Sales Tax called for 12% to be added onto every one of their purchases of cannabis medicine.

The HST was abolished, and the provincial government recognized cannabis as a medicinal product and decided not to tax it, but the federal government still demanded 5% GST.

(Staff and Friends of the V-CBC) was mostly dealing with strangers, but these people became more familiar to me as the days passed.

In time, I came to know many of their names, what type of illness they were dealing with, and what their favorite type of cannabis was.

They shared their stories with me, and although I received unkind words from some, I came to regard many patients as my friends. I really enjoyed talking to people and trying to figure out the best way to

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to give the initial orientation and consultation to new patients.

Each new member of the Cannabis Buyers Club must speak with one of the staff about the terms and conditions of membership, the pharmacology of cannabis as a medicine, and the effects of the club's various products. Sometimes people would want us to visit them in their homes or call on the telephone. All sorts of people signed up to the club with

(Artist rendition of the V-CBC storefront) help them. I learned more about many different types of illness. illness and medicine than I did at Many people reported only reany school. sorting to cannabis because their doctors told them there was nothAfter awhile I was privileged ing more they could do for them. enough to work at front desk re- We always encouraged patients to ception. It was important to help work with their doctors as much people feel welcome, but also to as possible. Now there are a lot

On March 31, 2014, the Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations replaced the Medical Marihuana Access Regulations. The MMAR had granted patients who were approved by Health Canada the right to grow their own cannabis or designate a grower to provide it for them, but the MMPR currently restricts the patients' access of cannabis to corporate mail order businesses that have received a license from the government to produce cannabis.

Additionally, the new licensed producers were not allowed to provide any type of extracted cannabis medicine, meaning patients were restricted to buying only dried cannabis which they would be forced to consume either by smoking it, vaporizing it or eating it plain. Anyone extracting the medicine from cannabis or infusing it into oils was considered to be breaking the law.

In June of 2015, six years after Owen Smith was arrested for infusing cannabis into butter for the Cannabis Buyers Club's cookies, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that patients authorized to use cannabis under the MMAR or MMPR would be allowed to make cannabis extracts or infuse their cannabis into other solvents like oils or alcohol. Because many patients would not be capable of eating as much raw cannabis as they required, clean cannabis extracts became highly sought after. Licensed producers were still unable to provide edible, topical or extracted cannabis medicine to their customers, so the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club began mailing all its products, except for dried cannabis, to its members across Canada.

Cannabis Digest • Summer 2016 help manage the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club; only a couple coworkers remain who were there before me. I consider it an honor to have served the community with so many who I regard as heroes in their own right, and I will continue to strive to protect their legacy.

The victory of Owen Smith's cookie trial brought a lot of publicity to the club. People across Canada were calling us, and writing emails to find out how they could get medicine shipped to them. We started consulting with new patients over the phone, and many came into town just to join the club. We were averaging about Over four years have passed since one new member per day. Other I started my career at the Victodispensaries were opening up all ria Cannabis Buyers Club, and it

over town, but people still came to us to get educated about cannabis, and we were always happy to oblige.

At the end of January 2016, the membership of the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club elected me to serve a two-year term on its board of directors. I had taken on a lot of the workload from my predecessors, such as doing payroll and some other accounting. I also now

is still the best job I've ever had.

There have been numerous opportunities to learn new tasks and skills that benefit the organization and community. Victoria's City Council has been listening to the pleas of our patients, and looking to the Cannabis Buyers Club for advice on regulating cannabis dispensaries in town. Patients and their caregivers often come in to follow up and tell us how well they are doing, and how well the medi-

cine is working for them. At the end of every shift, I think about the people we've managed to help.

I feel that the law preventing me from providing cannabis to these patients is unjust, and that I will proudly continue to break that law until justice finally prevails.

Issue Number 49

www.CannabisDigest.ca

Trouble in I

t's becoming a little exhausting being a cannabis activist in Ontario. In the time it takes to smoke a pin joint in a crowd, it seems the entire landscape has changed...and before you ​e ven h ​ ave time to do a dab, it's changed again.

Originally I had planned to use this space only to update Cannabis Digest readers on months of battle by movement leaders, canna business people, patients, and canna consumers to save our Ontario vapor lounges in advance of Bill 45 ...See the previous issue of Cannabis Digest for details on the Wynne government’s inclusion of cannabis in the Smoke Free Ontario act, and the extremely disturbing effects that is having on patient rights to medicate...in some cases even in their own homes (if they live in public housing or if they ever need the services of a PSW or home care worker.) This bill is expected to close the doors of every Ontario vapor lounge, and have a chilling effect on vendors, who would no longer be allowed to display, demonstrate, recommend, or even answer customer questions about vaporizers and how to use them.

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We'll get back to where we are in that important battle. But first, let me tell you what happened in the middle of that fight. For the past two decades Toronto has been a city with fewer than a dozen cannabis dispensaries, operating quietly. But after Toronto's mayor John Tory did several media interviews lamenting the proliferation of new cannabis dispensaries suddenly popping up in every neighborhood, everything changed. It happened just days after cannabusiness owners, patients, and other stakeholders gathered to be heard via legitimate channels. They were silenced via a bureaucratic loophole that had citizen onlookers, there for other business, shocked at how the activists’ voices were unheard.

Toronto area canna businesses were attacked in a mass police raid that targeted masses of ​shops across the city over the noon hour one day at the end of May. It was dubbed "Project Claudia" by the police. No one can complain that the raids were completely unexpected. The Toronto Police Service and the Municipal Licensing Department had both sent out letters to the businesses in question - and their landlords - in the preceding days. But they were certainly irresponsible, expensive, and heavy handed. The arrests were traumatizing for many of the patients and

Project Claudia Causes May hourly wage employees caught up in them. Reports are that police came in with guns drawn, and handcuffed even​ a wheelchair bound patient at one dispensary, and smashed the glass doors leaving broken glass shattered on the sidewalk, putting pets and passersby at risk for hours at another dispensary.

This is strange behavior for an action the police chief describes as "low key," and excuses as ‘in the interest of public health.’ And as mainstream media across the political spectrum, including the ultracon​s​ervative Toronto Sun, pointed out, this was a gigantic waste of taxpayers’ money--estimated between 1 and 2 million dollars, without counting the cost to landlords and business owners, lawsuits, and so many related future costs. This was a regressive, reactionary display of modern reefer madness,’' this time motivated by money and monopoly. And it has not been a popular move. It’s not just patients & potheads who are upset. Even the conservative leaning Toronto Taxpayers’ Coalition put out a strongly worded press release condemning the raids, and at last count an online poll the Sun ran had more than 75% of respondents saying they did not support the "Project Claudia" crackdown.

At a press conference held by Toronto Police the morning after the busts, as activists convened both inside and outside Police Headquarters, Chief Saunders attempted to justify the raids. Saunders replaced ex chief Bill Blair who was Toronto's top cop until he left to become an MP and member of the new Liberal government’s task force on legalization. It was clear that Saunders was completely unprepared for the challenges of activists. He kept repeating his talking points, but he had no understanding of the Allard decision, issues patients have with accessing good medicine in​the strains that they need at the time that they need it via the current licensed producer system. You almost felt sorry for him. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights, and had to admit under questioning that, with over 100 dispensaries and compassion clubs operating in the city for several months, there had in fact been no reports of any health issues at all, around either medibles or any other dispensary product.

On the Monday following the raids, arrestees, activists, and their advocates gathered at City Hall to protest Project Claudia, while Toronto City Councillor Joe Cressy called on the federal government to give municipalities

some guidelines in dealing with cannabis as we await the promised legalization. Several more demonstrations are planned over the coming weeks, and it is hoped that the cannabis enthusiasts who participate in 420 celebrations every year will come out in force to support our spaces. As Sean Brady said, "you were there for the glory...will you be there for the fight?" ​

Meanwhile, business at the dispensaries that were not hit in the busts remains brisk. One patient-focused centre, True Compassion Toronto, is open and serving members only. In the days following the crackdown, they reported an extremely busy week, with desperate patients phoning for information and looking for alternatives to access their medicine after so many in

the city were put out of business. Many have vowed to reopen. Rick Vrecic, a patient volunteer and co founder of the facility said he understood the ​r isks, but he also said: "We here at TCT feel that providing our members safe dignified access is paramount in these troubling times. Therefore as long as we are able, we will be open to serve you our members."

Activists are calling Project​ Claudia, Project Fraudia...it's a clever turn of phrase...but just who is "Claudia" anyway? And why was the massive bust of pot shops in Canada's largest city named after her? Well...that's an interesting question. The police say they took it from the name of a hurricane. But the powers that be might have accidentally sent out a message

Cannabis Digest • Summer 2016

n Toronto

yhem For Toronto Dispensaries we should all consider. In mythology, Claudia was the innocent who protected a member of the nobility from the anger of a crowd. In real life, "Claudia" will not be able to protect the power elite from the anger of the people demanding justice, and the right to use this healing plant. Some of the previously hit dispensaries are reopening, and others remain untouched. Even as rumours of a second cycle of raids circulated in the cannabiz community, new dispensaries are opening across Ontario, and a well known Vancouver based brand opened two locations in Toronto the day after the raids, proudly announcing that not only would they be dispensing cannabis...but that they would sell to anyone over the age of 19, no medical need required. ​

Cannabis Culture M ​anager Erin Goodwin, a long time Toronto cannabis activist, previously known for her work with Toronto's 420 celebrations, Vapor Central, and the firebrand HashMob, told Cannabis Digest : "Our aim is to not discriminate between the healthy and sick, we do not want to invade our clients’ privacy by inquiring their reason for using, as long as they are an adult we feel they should have safe access. While some feel we should wait for proper legislation it is important that our experienced opinions to be taken into account, and the only way to get our voices heard is to openly and peacefully break these unjust laws."

By Tracy Lamourie

nearly a month to the day after the first raids, and just days after a passionate group of canna patients, business owners, and other advocates gathered to show their support for community compassion clubs and dispensaries, and protest the raids and shameful waste of police resources. Police raided the Queen St West Cannabis Culture and three Cannawide locations across the city, arresting more than 20 people including Erin Goodwin, ​ and ​ Peter Melanson. Melanson is well known to the canna community as a previous owner of one of Hamilton's first dispensaries, and of Melanheadz lounges, first in Hamilton, and later in Toronto. More recently he worked with the Goodwins at Goodweeds before its unexpected closing. He has now joined them as an employee at the Cannabis Culture that Erin was managing. A third female CC employee who was arrested, it is reported, had only been working at the dispensary for two hours. She was shocked to be put in handcuffs on her first day.

It seems the police wanted to make a point. Unlike the previous wave of arrests, this one came with no special accommodations for arrestees to be immediately released. Both Erin and Pete had to spend a night in jail before attending court in the morning.

Unbowed, and as determined as ever to force change, Erin (whose court conditions say she can't be at the Queen St West location) greeted customers with a smile and several strains of bud at the chain's Queen St East location.

She was joined by the corporate owner who flew into town the day after the raid, and spent some time over the next couple of days serving at the counter, and taking the opportunity to speak to the media. One bright moment shone through all the anger about the raid.

That was the moment when a photo of Erin in custody circulated. The canna community expressed pride that instead of doing the shamed head down perp walk...Erin looked radiant and confident being led away from the dispensary to face the law, not only smiling widely at the cameras but flashing a peace sign. Most of us first saw the image when Chris Goodwin shared it with the hashtag #proudhusband ...

She made us all proud with that single image; it said so much.

many patients themselves ​ who were also arrested​. But so far TPS is sticking to their guns, threatening further arrests and saying they expect charges to stick. We're hoping the courts feel differently.

Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on our vapor lounges. Just as Ontario patients, canna consumers, activists, advocates and business owners tried to catch their breath, the Members of Provincial Parliament gathered to vote on Bill 178,an amendment to Bill 45, that would have exempted cannabis patients, their homes and safe spaces from legislation originally meant to address e-cigarettes and the vaping of nicotine.

As ridiculous as it is to equate medicine and medical​devices with tobacco and nicotine, cannabis advocates in Ontario are reeling from the results of that vote. In a final count, unbelievable to many--78 for; 1 against--it effectively closed our social spaces and severely encroached on a patient’s right to medicate even in some private homes. This is inexcusable. ​ In spite of these difficulties, as is the case with dispensaries, new vapor lounges owners are determined to open their doors and provide safe inhalation spaces even in communities where they have been unknown to date. As I mentioned in my previous article on the topic, in the conservative SW Ontario community of Chatham, Ontario (between London and Windsor) business partners Michael Kaer and Jefferey Allen have been working toward the opening of their long awaited lounge, The Other Side, for the local cannabis community, which until now has never had a social space in which to gather.

When asked his thoughts about the coming legislations, Kaer said : "We are opening regardless, we are going to open as a coffee house if we have to, until we can force change in the law.

We need safe inhalation spaces."

With all this happening, and with the promise of legalization, we're at the cusp of a new reality - and we have to be a part of shaping it!

​

We're all looking up at the clock on Parliament Hill. The big hand is on the four...and - oh look! The little hand is on the four, too. Because it's Activists are calling for all charges 2016. against ALL dispensary employees to Supporters and media across the city be dropped--those whose names and waited with bated breath to see how po- faces we know and those less familiar lice might respond. The answer came young people; hourly wage workers,

Issue Number 49

www.CannabisDigest.ca

Medicine Woman The Many Ways Gayle Quin Fights Cancer With Cannabis caps a day. The hash caps, sold by the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club, are simply made by taking a Âź lb of decarboxylated hash and dissolving it into a liter of hemp oil before putting it into veggie capsules. This method avoids the use of solvents, and helps capture the essential oils or terpenes that have great medical value though little is known about them.

Ted Smith or over 5 years, since havF ing cancer removed from her right breast and part of her

armpit, Gayle Quin continues to survive in large part due to the healing properties of cannabis. Though she has been using cannabis to deal with various medical issues since the age of 13, there is no doubt she would have never seen her 59th birthday without it. Her journey inspires others with hope. By explaining all of the various ways she uses this incredible plant, Gayle has always wanted to see others benefit from her extensive experience and knowledge of plants.

Of course she has smoked hash and pot since she was a teenager, and we have enjoyed sharing joints since we met.

However, there have been many times during these past five years when smoking cannabis was not an option, especially after her major operations. She often prefers to vaporize either herb or shatter by herself rather than risk coughing. It has been very, very rare for her to feel any sort of high in the last 5 years, at least from cannabis; often the pain has been too great.

When Gayle had the operation on June 24, 2011, she drank a bottle of cannabis infused oil the night before. She refused to take any pain medication when she woke up; her breast had been hurting so much before the surgery that the pain afterward did not seem as bad, and having had too many bad experiences with side effects, she was very afraid of prescription drugs. Since she refused to take more than a single dose of an anti-inflammatory, they sent her home the day after without giving us much information or resources at all.

During that time Gayle was taking a number of natural medicines, many recommended by a naturopath she was seeing, and consuming several hash

At first after the surgery we could not apply cannabis massage oils on the open wound that spread from her armpit to the middle of her chest, but we could apply oil close to the

energy pulsator machine called a Sota. But nothing seemed to be working, and her pain kept getting worse.

On Nov 1, 2014, while Gayle was walking to the bathroom, two of her vertebrae collapsed.

It seemed like the end was near, as her bones were obviously falling apart and she did not seem to be able to tolerate prescription drugs. After three days of not eating, we switched her from morphine to didualid. Almost immediately she started puking blood. We then tried giving her fentanyl, which she seemed to tolerate much

(Tedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s table of medicines he makes for gayle)

incision. When it healed over we were able to apply even more oils to her skin, helping it heal nicely. Within months the skin had grown back together so well you could barely see a stitch. The surgeon was even able to cut around the tattoo of hummingbirds on her chest and everyone hoped the cancer was gone.

In Dec 2013 she had a small lump of cancer removed from her right armpit and we learned the cancer was spreading into her bones, throughout her body. Western medicine had absolutely no options for her to fight the cancer, and she was basically told to go home and enjoy her life with me as much as possible before she came to a terrible end. Her energy levels dramatically decreased and she started to fall apart.

The worse she got the more types of pills of natural medicines she would try. Along with many hash caps, she would take dozens of pills a day, often making herself sick with the amount of different concentrated medicines in her stomach.

She bought several devices, including a mat with embedded crystals that uses far-infrared light to produce heat; a farinfrared sauna; and a magnetic

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than she needed for a few days as they expected her to pass away within days or weeks.

The doctor that came to visit only spoke about how Gayle was dealing with her impending death, and barely even discussed what we were doing to keep her alive.

Of course the entire time I was applying as much massage oil as possible, usually the kind the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club makes with comfrey. At some point she started adding budder, that our very generous friend Budderking donated to her, to the massage oil to make it stronger. At least once a day since her back has broken I have washed her and covered her body with cannabis oils, as well as constantly applying it through the day on the trouble areas.

When she was in the hospital some friends started putting honey oil in veggie capsules for her to eat. Before her back broke, as she is so chemically sensitive, Gayle was not interested in eating anything made with a solvent. But when death seemed close, the potential negatives were insignificant compared to the real benefits she would get from eating concentrated cannabis extracts. Since she was only able to get a small number of pills a day it made sense to make them as potent as possible.

better. Between her back, neck, shoulder and other sore areas, it seemed like she was going to die very soon, and there was nothing we could do but try to keep her as comfortable as posSoon after she got home I sible. asked her what else I could do to help, and she mentioned the At that point our good friend Sota machine. Usually I give Sita von Windheim came over too much credit to cannabis from Vancouver and brought and not enough to this magsome cannabis suppositories for netic energy device. It was not Gayle. While we knew canna- long after using this machine bis could be put into supposi- on her most painful bones that tories, we had not been able to she began to improve, getting make any before this happened. out of bed into wheelchair less The cannabis suppositories than 2 months after her back saved her life. collapsed.

After four days of no food and one terrible day puking blood, and soon after using a couple of cannabis suppositories, Gayle started eating. She could only get one grape down every 15 minutes at the beginning, but it also meant she could get a few capsules of hash caps down too.

Within a few days she was able to eat more food, but did not bother taking any medicines other than cannabis, as it was clear she was dying despite taking all sorts of other products.

For the first half of 2015 her recovery was nothing short of remarkable. Gradually she was able to get in the car to go to the dentist or beach, and one afternoon we went to the hospital to thank the nurses for taking such good care of her.

We got some cushions for the wheelbarrow so I could take her around the yard, and even to a coffeeshop downtown Cobble Hill so we could get a hot chocolate to take to the park for a couple of joints.

She was sent home less than two weeks later, with everyone glad she did not die in the hospital. The nurses that visited would not leave more diapers

Then in August 2015 a third disk broke, putting her back in bed. Then her right leg started breaking, putting her in great pain. It was unbearable to

Cannabis Digest â&#x20AC;˘ Summer 2016

watch. In October we took her suppository. to the hospital, where they performed emergency surgery and As well as using copious put a metal rod down her femur amounts of massage oil, which bone to keep it straight. has helped keep her from getting any bed sores despite not During this time I took full getting out of it for over 10 control of making all of the months, Gayle has also been cannabis capsules Gayle was using cannabis patches to help eating, plus making a special with the pain. These Canmassage oil using cannoil, bud- napatches were made by the der, mixtures of St John's Wort, VCBC soon after Gayle started comfrey, arnica and a home- working with us. She convinced made poppy oil and olive oil in- us that when we discarded the fused with hemp leaves. While leaf soaked in olive oil and butshe was eating CBD oil from ter that we were using to make the VCBC and honey oil pro- our food and skin products, we vided by Sita on a regular basis, were throwing away good medmost of the other caps she was icine. It has been remarkable taking were made from various how much these poultices have oils donated by friends trying to helped her on days when there help, aside from the hash caps I has been in a lot of pain. was making.

With over five years of fightWhen she was recovering ing cancer and three surgeries from her back breaking the under her belt, Gayle Quin has first time she insisted on do- constantly proven that cannabis ing as much as possible to make and love can keep people alive her medicines, but she had no when nothing else can. Having choice but to let me take over dedicated her life to helping when she became stuck in bed others with plant medicines, her again. Now I prepare veggie experience in fighting cancer is caps made with honey oil, CDB, giving others hope, and changhemp hash, mixed hash and a ing attitudes in many local resin that is left behind when health care providers. While no you cook leaf in water down to one could possibly predict how a tar, plus any other donations long she can continue to fight, that she gets. At night she uses there is no doubt she will cona single suppository and when tinue to inspire others with her she is having more pain she also story for generations to come. takes a small homemade opium

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Cannabis Digest • Summer 2016

Adam GreenBlatt and Santé Cannabis

A d a p t i n g To T h e C h a n g i n g C a n n a b i s L a n d s c a p e Quebec and Montreal were with knowledge of cannabis their intimate knowledge of raided simultaneously. An who sign patients up for the the industry, they dialogue investigation found that the MMPR and also provide Sa- and advocate for patients who newest dispensary to open, tivex and Nabilone. By pro- find the MMPR a nightmare the Culture 420 club, would viding access to physicians, to navigate. accept a self-diagnosis for they are tackling the biggest cannabis signed by a commis- obstacle Quebec patients face Another important service sioner of oaths (link). Seeing on their path to legally ac- they provide is making oils, this, police painted all the cessing medical cannabis. resins and hash for patients; dispensaries with the same The College des Medecins They keep it simple, making brush raiding and shutting du Quebec suggested a pro- tinctures and honey oil as well them down. hibition on the prescription as vegetable oil infusions for Owen Smith of cannabis outright, until patients: the most popular are After the clubs were closed, they were informed that such butter, Avocado and Cocopatients began calling Adam, a move would be unconstitu- nut oil. They provide recipes (This article previously appeared looking for a way to access tional. for people to make at home, at LiftCannabis.ca) offer rolling services and sell vaporizers. dam Greenblatt is a 31 Santé Cannabis was an inyear old, career cannatervener in my case at the Subis advocate, having been impreme Court of Canada. Part mersed in the cannabis social of their written contribution justice movement and mediwas the story of Liam and cal cannabis industry for the Mandy McKnight. When the past decade. decision was handed down, Mandy’s use of cannabis oil to Like other pioneer advorelieve Liam’s seizures was the cates, his efforts were charged top story on the news. This by the suffering of someone helped force Health Canada dear to him. At 18 yrs. old, to open the market up to LiAdam was getting into troucensed Producers to sell oils ble with cannabis at school. to patients. The arbitrary limAdam’s father had run out of its of the Section 56 exempmedical options to treat his tions are set very low but high Multiple Sclerosis: Adam was enough to suit some Patients helping him access cannabis. (including Liam).

The infuriating hypocrisy of getting in trouble for picking Currently only a few Liup his dads prescription lit a their medicine.

In the midst censed producers have lifire inside him. of this volatility he helped In a joint effort between Mc- censes to sell cannabis oils Greenblatt moved to Mon- to open the Medical Canna- Gill University Health Cen- and are struggling to keep treal and became involved bis Access Society with his tre, the CCIC and the CMQ up with demand. That makes with the Bloc Pot, Quebec’s partner “in life and crime” the Quebec Cannabis Reg- the continued work of Santé Marijuana Party. In 2004 he Erin Prosk. They began sup- istry was launched to collect Cannabis and others to help ran for office against veteran plying dispensaries in Toron- data about Quebec medical educate patients on how best politician Irwin Cotler, who to, Guelph and Victoria, BC cannabis patients by keeping to utilize this diverse medicurrently serves as a Liberal while helping people access track of the quantity, effects cine ever more important.

MP. Although his political Health Canada’s Marihuana and side-effects of their use. Having just celebrated their 1 career was short lived, the ex- Medical Access Regulations. While some question whether year anniversary, Santé Canperience led him to a job at a The Society’s focus on profes- it is ethical to force patients nabis has future plans to open medical cannabis dispensary. sionalism aimed to raise the into a research study to access more clinics, host cannabis oil At the Montreal Compassion bar amongst dispensaries. He their medicine, Santé canna- workshops and conduct reCentre Adam began dealing Co-Founded CAMCD, who bis is implementing it with search projects. directly with growers and pa- have developed a set of stan- the goal to improve the safety You can listen to my intertients while learning about dards and best practices for and efficacy of medical canview with Adam on Timethe myriad medical condi- dispensaries and have been nabis products and services. actively lobbying municipal Santé cannabis helps pa4Hemp radio. tions that cannabis was being and federal governments. tients to distinguish between used to treat. licensed producer’s, not all In April 2014, when the L.P.’s offer the same quality Time4hemp.com/pace-radio He credits his experience working at the MCC for pro- Marihuana for Medical Pur- products and services. With viding practical experience poses Regulations came into but he mostly learned about effect, he chose to close both the science through years of organizations and created pouring over Cannabis Cul- Santé Cannabis. Located on ture forums, reading books, Montreal, Santé Cannabis and news-hawking. Eventu- became the first ‘full service ally his experience at MCC medical cannabis clinic’ in became a lesson in how not Quebec. Quebec doctors have to run a dispensary. Adam left been more reluctant than any only a few months before they other to approve a medical cannabis treatment. were raided by police.

A

While they have no canIn 2010, the Culture 420 nabis on site, they have 7 club in Lachine and four othphysicians er compassion clubs in nearby compassionate

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Cannabis Digest • Summer 2016

Updates , Warnings and Suggestions ers across Canada joined us by having picnics, including folks in Winnipeg, Halifax, Vancouver, and Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast of BC. The City of Victoria officially declared June 11 as International Medical Marijuana Day, and once again we were giving out cookies at the event, which was held in Beacon Hill Park where Hempology 101 used to meet Wednesday evenings.

agement.

Recent changes at the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club have found me as president of the board of directors, with Brandi Woods, who has worked at the club for over 9 years, as general manager. We greatly appreciate all of the work Dieter MacPherson has done over the past few years; he has lead the club in both roles since 2012, the year it was turned into a non-profit society. He will remain as a consultant of the organization, as his role as president of the Canadian Association of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries has given him an important job for everyone in the industry.

In addition we held our annual game of Reach For The Pot at the Victoria courthouse on Cannabis Day, known more often as Canada Day. These days I do not get to play my games very often, so it was a special Ted Smith treat for me. One day I will be spending a lot more time playThere will be some changes ing these games, as it is a unique occurring now that I have the ell it has been a very form of live performance that I reigns back in my hands, inbusy spring for cannabis truly enjoy. cluding more community events activists across Canada. Startfor the members to be involved ing with April 20 celebrations, Meanwhile, the City of Vic- with. Whether it will be parwhich were highlighted when toria is slowly drafting bylaws ticipating in public fundraisers Canada’s Minister of Health in- to regulate dispensaries, and like the Walk For MS, Terry formed the United Nations that the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Fox Run, the TC 10K, or other our country was going to intro- Club is hoping to be first in events like the Pride Parade and duce laws legalizing cannabis in line. While the original bylaws Earthwalk, we want to become one year’s time, this spring has followed those implemented in fully engaged with our combeen full of excitement. There is Vancouver, City Council in Vic- munity, and give our members definitely a buzz in our commu- toria wisely chose to amend sev- plenty of opportunities to repnity that is gaining in volume eral controversial rules, includ- resent our group. Of course, we and complexity. ing the ban on edibles, deliveries also hope to have more events and mail orders. Unfortunately, for members only, so keep an eye In Victoria, the annual April as of press time the amendments out for posters.

20 smoke-in at City Hall pro- have not been put to the council ceeded without a problem, ex- for second reading, so the details Coming up next is the 2nd cept for the two drunks that are not public yet. There should Annual Team 420 Dodgeball were taken away by ambulance. also be something in writing Tournament on Aug 20th. This Our event is pretty basic com- that gives the council the ability year we are hosting the event pared to Vancouver’s; they had to grant the VCBC permission by the bandshell in Beacon Hill at least 70,000 people on Sunset to continue operating a smok- Park, mostly because Tent City Beach. But for the 2,000 or so ing room, something our club has taken over the back lawn of people in Victoria, the 420 was highly treasures. the courthouse. We had a great a blazing success. The biggest time last year, and thanks to our problem for both events was the As for my love Gayle Quin, press trying to make it look like please read the full length arwe were not being responsible ticle I have written for this issue for cleaning up the garbage. In explaining some of the details of truth, clean-up has always been her incredible struggle. Using a priority for organizers. cannabis to keep her alive has deeply confirmed my commitOn June 11, the one year anni- ment to this plant, and given me versary of Owen Smith’s victory profound respect for its healing at the Supreme Court of Can- properties. Every time I write ada, we celebrated International these updates I am constantly Medical Marijuana Day with a thinking of her, as writing them silent art auction at the Victo- used to be her job. Indeed, ria Cannabis Buyers Club, and this paper might not even exist a picnic in the park. A few oth- without her input and encour-

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sponsors there were even trophies for the winners and most valuable player, which we handed out at the Hempology 101 anniversary, the next event we organized.

On Sept 7, 2016, the International Hempology 101 Society will be marching from City Hall to the Provincial Legislature to mark 21 years of cannabis activism in the Victoria. This annual march starts at 7pm at Centennial Square. It is always a lot of fun to gather on the front steps of the beautiful legislature building, and smoke a few joints.

Of course in September, the University of Victoria Student Society’s Hempology 101 Club also starts the Wednesday 420 circles back up in the center of campus, and the Hempology 101 club at UBC gets back to being full active too. This could be the year the UBC club gets bigger and more active than UVic, even though the UVic 420 circles have been going on since 1998.

Hopefully more students will be interested in starting Hempology 101 clubs at their schools as legalization sinks in, but for now we are happy having these two clubs active.

Everyone with the Cannabis Digest is super stoked to be on the verge of printing issue #50.

Please read my publisher’s note to get caught up on our plans to improve our newspaper and please consider helping distribute if you can afford a few dollars for shipping, or better yet get your local dispensary to get listed in our newspaper so you can pick it up there.

Issue Number 49

www.CannabisDigest.ca

The Seeds of Freedom

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Feed your mind.

Mat launched a constitutional court battle that would last 6 years. He was represented by Kirk Tousaw, an expert in constitutional law. Tousaw was also my counsel.

Owen Smith When I was arrested and charged in 2009 for “trafficking THC” by making cannabis products for the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club (V-CBC), I had a choice.

I could choose either the short road, and strike some kind of plea bargain with the crown prosecution to have my charges reduced, or I could take the long road of a constitutional challenge to the medical cannabis regulations. At the time, I was well aware of the travails of previous constitutional challengers who had safely found some light at the end of their long winding roads. The most recent example was the trial of R. v.

Beren and Swallow.

Mat was given an absolute discharge (guilty but no criminal record). This precedent gave me some confidence when choosing to launch my own challenge in 2009. Health Canada was given a year to change the Medical Marihuana Access Regulations to allow for more than three licensed growers to share a facility, and for a licensed grower to provide for more than one patient. Health Canada responded in the most minimal way possible, allowing for four growers instead of three

rich cannabis. They make CBD Caramels that have received positive feedback from dispensary members for their non-psychoactive medicinal effects.

Mat has been collecting trophies from cannabis competitions across Canada and around the world. His “full melt dry sift” became world renown after winning 2nd place at the Amsterdam High Times cup. In collaboration with Bubbleman, he has since mastered more “dry sift” purification techniques.

Mat’s story serves as an example of how larger-scale facilities can provide the quality of cannabis and, through patient feedback, improve the plant for everybody.

Let’s hope Licensed Producers are taking notes. Mat believes that apart from being licensed by Health Canada and having much larger facilities (that would presumably reduce the price), LPs don’t have an advantage over home growers. Large scale facilities have to maintain an equal, if not greater level of scrutiny, at their grow sites to avoid the many difficulties that can occur when growing quality medicinal cannabis.

Mat is an advocate of Rosin, which he makes using water hash in Tea Bags under the pressure and heat of a T-shirt press. He notes it can Mat has continued to blaze a trail be made well enough with a digi- many years after his road of trials came to an end. Check out House of the Great Gardener online, and Listen to my interview with Mat Beren at Time4Hemp.

Mat Beren attended a portion of my trial in 2012, offering re-as(Kirk Tousaw, Me and Mat Beren) suring words with his relaxed and friendly attitude. I recently got to interview Mat on my bi-weekly in the same space, and for each tal hair straightener at 180F. He grower to provide for two instead praises its smooth smoke, solvent talk radio slot at Time4Hemp. of only one patient. free purity and short processing time, but acknowledges that the The motto of Mat’s Ontario As Mat was already growing for process loses terpenes. Because it hometown is “High, Healthy and 400 patients at the VICS, this did avoids the use of “highly flammaHappy.” In the Nineties, durnot strike him as an adequate reble solvents,” Rosin is one of the ing his Shamanic drum work, he sponse.

In some ways R v Beren methods of concentration that began to ponder deeply how he could help to make Cannabis a could be seen as foundational to is permitted to those protected better plant. Mat became aware the formation of the MMPR, under the Allard Injunction in that cannabis was being grown which was introduced four years Health Canada’s recent Section largely for the purpose of mak- later, and has more thoroughly 56 exemptions. ing money. His intention to help addressed the need for large propeople led him to focus his at- duction facilities and co-opera- Mat sees the Section 56 exemption as an inadequate response tention on improving the effects tion among growers. to the Supreme Court of Canada that cannabis has within our bodAfter the trial Mat formed House ruling in my case earlier this year. ies. In 2002 Mat travelled west in of the Great Gardener to provide As in 2009, when Health Canasearch of a place to grow cannabis seeds to club members who may da side-stepped the court’s order in order to make people feel betwant to grow their own.

Offering from his trial, H.C. has re-introter. varieties that had been routinely duced arbitrary restrictions, such After growing his first crop, Mat tried and tested by club mem- as a low-dose limit, that will inwent in search of a compassion bers, he has continued to culti- evitably lead to further litigation club, and was directed to the Van- vate strains that target particular in the courts. couver Island Compassion Soci- needs based on feedback from the ety (VICS). He had eight strains, VICS. Mat now has an arsenal Mat laments that Licensed Proeach labeled with a general profile of cannabis genetics spanning the ducers are bound by Health Canof its medicinal effects. The next Sativa to Indica scale, and plung- ada’s over-restrictive regulations.

He applauds LPs for engaging day, he began working for the ing deeply into CBD territory. in the move forward, and thinks VICS, and has been with them Mat believes that prohibition that apart from prohibiting paever since. caused growers to breed CBD out tients from growing their own, In 2004, Mat collaborated with of their cultivars in an attempt to the MMPR has been a move in the VICS to help start the Van- maximize profitability. As dis- the right direction. Mat is curcouver Island Cannabis Thera- pensaries emerged, focusing on rently protected by the Allard peutic Research Institute (VIC- feedback from medicinal users, court injunction, and is keenly TRI). Mat can still remember CBD began to make its come- waiting with thousands of others all the red laser scopes dotting its back. House of the Great Gar- to hear a decision from the judge hallway later that year, when the dener has recently released CBD on whether patients can retain police raided the club. In a re- René, the latest in a project geared their legal right to grow cannabis. sponse similar to mine in 2009, toward creating flavourful, CBD

(Article previously appeared at LiftCannabis.ca)

Cannabis Digest â&#x20AC;˘ Summer 2016

Issue Number 49

www.CannabisDigest.ca

Compassion In The Capital

31

Patients In Ottawa Finally Have Improved Access a-month appointments were being held in an apartment in a shabby building on Gilmour Street. By the following summer we had an actual office just off of Bank Street. The whole operation was closed in 2005 for three reasons: we didn’t have enough patients for it to be financially sustainable, the police found out about it after a volunteer set

But today, Ottawans have several ways to access marijuana for medical purposes (aside from mail-ordering it from some other city’s dispensary, as I am sure many patients do). There is Franco Vigile’s Ottawa Medical Dispensary (O.M.D.) on Carling Ave. which was opened in 2015 and serves approximately 1000 patients. Vigile

Russell Barth he first compassion club T or marijuana dispensary in the Ottawa area was Can-

That was the beginning of what would become The National Capital Compassion Society. Someone started it with $1000 and a pound of donated weed. But after another someone mentioned indiscreetly that it was being run out of the back of a local boutique, responsibility was tossed to us. By the next summer, not-for-profit paperwork had been filed, and the once-

Don Briere owns the tiny Weeds Gifts and Glass on Montreal Rd, just a snowball’s throw from BuzzOn. They offer an array of bud, shatter, edibles, and coaching for people who can prove a medical need.

They have been quite busy since opening on February 26th of this year, and opened a second location on Bank Street on June 15th, serving over 1000 patients through these two locations.

Patrick Lavigne runs Capital City Cannabis Clinics, which is on Bank Street in the south end of Ottawa. It is a full-on dispensary, providing a range of cannabis products. They opened in early April and have not yet had any official visits from the police. They currently serve 138 patients, but their membership grows by three patients per day.

napharm, which opened in 1998-99; it was short-lived. It got busted, and there was neither the money nor the wherewithal at the time to keep the dispensary going.

In the summer and autumn of 2002, Christine and I ran an informal compassion club out of our apartment on Bayswater. Once a month, about twelve people would call a cell phone and make an order, and we would let them come to our apartment on the same day and buy some medicine.

We never made a dime; it was all volunteer work, and a tremendous hassle as well.

area communities of Kanata and Sittsville.”

off the alarm and didn’t get the code correct; and someone at Cannabis Culture Magazine published the address.

was able to clearly communicate to the City Council the benefits of providing safe and convenient access to the people with prescriptions that are A while back, a couple of ya- in need of this medicine. He is hoos from Victoria blew into already preparing to open two town and just opened a place more locations in the Ottawaon Somerset in a fairly shabby building. They didn’t contact any of the local activists, any head shop owners, or anyone on City Council. They just opened, and were open for less than two weeks, receiving a soft bust (where the cops come and tell you that they are coming back tomorrow and if you are still selling pot, you leave in cuffs.)

There are also some delivery-only dispensaries, like Erba Organics and Capital Med Delivery, run by BuzzOn-affiliated Wayne Robillard. Wayne has only been open since the end of May of this year, and already has 19 customers

Cannabis Digest • Summer 2016

Then, for the beginners or the squeamish, there are the information centres, the places where no marijuana is sold or used on premises. For a fee, these places will help patients talk to their own doctors, connect them to more-up-to-date doctors who will be willing to sign paperwork, and help them navigate the MMPR paperwork and variety of delivery and dosing options that the LPs offer.

In other Ottawa news, I lost my Human Rights case against the City and Mayor of Ottawa. The ruling stated that because I was not subjected to any particular discrimination - as in being refused housing or services or whatever - then the Mayor’s comments did not constitute a violation of The Ontario Human Rights Code.

That was the City’s argument in their original response, so I am not sure why the Tribunal didn’t stop it then, instead of National Access Cannabis moving on to the phone hearon Wellington, run by former ing.

RCMP officer Derek Ogden, and InfoCannabis, on Notre I would like to thank Kevin Dame Street in Embrun, Hall at Chronic Pain Toronto which is about 36km south- who handled the phone heareast of Ottawa. The latter has ing for me and put together consultants in four provinces. a case far better than I would have been able to muster.

What the future holds for these badly needed services is Even though I lost, the loa mystery. If I had been asked, cal media (Citizen and Meteven a year ago, if I thought ro) portrayed me as someone there would be a handful of who doesn’t back down from thriving dispensaries operat- a fight and who will go on to ing in Ottawa a year later, I fight again, despite the defeat. would have said “no.” Crime is so low, the police so feckless, Finally - some honest journalism! and nimbyism so deeply ingrained in this drained swamp of a town that I am completely at a loss to explain how any of this is actually happening.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS 1. Silence—You can refuse to talk to the police or answer their questions. You must give your name, birthdate, and address, or show them your ID. You DO NOT have to say anything else.

2. You can say NO if police ask to search any of your things.

3. You can leave unless you are being arrested or detained 4. You have the right to know why you are being detained, and to speak privately to a lawyer—even if you can’t pay.

5. You can only be strip-searched in private, and only by someone of the same sex.

6. You have the right to know the officers’ badge numbers.

7. You can report an officer who abuses me, swears at me, or violates your rights Example of what to say if you are being detained: “Officer, if I am under arrest or being detained, please tell me so...If I am free to go, please tell me so. If I am not free to go, please tell me why...I wish to exercise all my leagal rights, including my right to silence and my right to speak to a lawyer, before I say anything to you. I do not consent to be searched. I wish to be released without delay...Please do not ask me questions, because I will not willingly talk to you until I speak to a lawyer...Thank you for respecting my rights.” *Every situation is different. Use courtesy, and common sense.

Legal Aid BC: 1-866-577-2525

Check out Pivot Legal Society for more info < www.pivotlegal.org>

Issue Number 49

www.CannabisDigest.ca

Cannabis Digest • Summer 2016

Creating a stable glycerin infusion to eat or vape

Owen Smith

T

he process of creating a consistent cannabis edible, topical or inhalable product is a unique challenge facing modern product producers.

Fortunately advancements in modern technology give us the capacity to meet this challenge like no other period in history.

Where cannabis is prohibited, producers are less likely to invest in equipment that can be seized by authorities. Jurisdictions that permit productions, processing and sale of cannabis are getting kick-started by the inclusion of modern scientific lab equipment. The sudden introduction of cannabis concrete resins known as rosin, shatter or BHO absolute can be attributed to this advancement.

New challenges arise when seeking to dilute a resinous concentrated oil into a carrier liquid. Every possible carrier for a cannabis infusion will require individual fine tuning to suit the qualities of the medium. I will be exploring some basic equipment that can make a big difference in the overall consistency of the end products, especially when making large batches.

A prime example of a product that offers definite challenges to produce is E-Juice or E-Liquid, a glycerin infusion used in vapor pens. Vapor pens have risen quickly in popularity and are cheap, discrete and easy to use. Vapor Accessory outlets often feature a wall of E-Juice flavors that is more diverse than an ice cream shop.

However, like ice cream shops, the vapor outlets don’t carry a cannabis infused product.

and vegetable glycerin. These two substances separate rapidly in a container, the cannabis oil settling to the bottom.

The process outlined uses a Homogenizer to combine the two very different substances into one. This process of mechanical emulsification with the Homogenizer removes the need for additive surfactants such as lecithin. This can cut down on long-term costs as the money saved on additives will quickly pay back the few hundred dollars that the device cost.

tamination and makes it easier is moved around the shaft for to clean. about 45 seconds to one minute. The device is then powThe process described be- ered off. low (adapted from here CAT Scientific) infuses 25 grams of The beaker is removed from winterized and decarboxylated the Homogenizer and placed cannabis resin into 500ml of back on the Hotplate Stirkosher vegetable glycerin. You rer. The VG-BHO emulsion can use the suggested propor- is heated to 80°C for ½ an tions in the example or tweak hour. During that time, whatthem to suit your needs; how- ever BHO separates within ever the solution cannot ex- the solution will appear in the ceed 30% by weight, cannabis centre of the beaker. The beaoil to vegetable glycerin or it ker is then moved back to the will begin to separate. For the Homogenizer and emulsified experiment, 500ml of kosher again, as described above. The vegetable glycerin was placed beaker is again placed on the A magnetic hotplate stirrer in a one litre beaker and heated MCS78 Hotplate Stirrer and can be used to very carefully to 80°C on the CAT MCS78 the solution heated to 80°C for ½ an hour. If any separation occurs, homogenize again.

After this you’ll have a stable VG-BHO Emulsion for about 90 days.

The Homogenizer Set-up

heat, melt and mix samples.

The Homogenizer, that looks like a cross between a drill and a hand blender, provides the necessary torque needed to merge the glycerin and melted resin. A CAT X1000D Homogenizer drive with a G-20 (N) Normal Generator Shaft spins at up to 33000 RPM. The Generator Shaft is lowered into the centre of the liquid where the internal blade pulls the material through spinning shears, splicing it into micron sized droplets. The homogenizer attaches to a tabletop stand and is quick to assemble.

It is not very loud even at it’s highest speed.

The manual contains numerous cautions that the device only be turned on when submerged in a liquid to avoid the risk of fire or damage to the device. It is a precision instrument that makes using an ordinary kitchen blender look like a beating fork. The shaft There is a two hour process is sealed to prevent materials for making E-Juice for your from entering the shaft tube. vapor pen with cannabis oil This helps avoid cross con-

Magnetic Hotplate Stirrer. 25 grams of BHO absolute was heated in a separate vessel.

If you are not vaping your E-Juice, but choose to eat it instead, avoid the use of rubber droppers as the rubber will cause the mixture to polarize and separate. This is only one simplified process for making a cannabis-infused E-Juice, an art which is quickly catching fire. Find all the equipment mentioned in the article at www.catscientific.com.

I will be performing some experiments with the homogenizer and other equipment to help the growing number of craft cannabis producers to improve their products as they compete to supply the emerging legal cannabis industry.

When the vegetable glycerin reaches 80°C, the beaker is moved over to the X1000D Homogenizer. The Homogenizer is clamped on its drive (this article previously appeard stand so that the Genera- at LiftCannabis.ca) tor Shaft can be immersed in the vegetable glycerin about 1/16th of an inch from the bottom of the beaker. The device is powered on at the lowest setting, 4,000 rpm’s, and increased to 8,000. The BHO is then poured into the vegetable glycerin and the vessel

Issue Number 49

www.CannabisDigest.ca

Kirk Tousaw Close Up of a Constitutional Champion trafficking THC. Ted Smith tracked Kirk down and invited him help us bring another constitutional challenge to the medical cannabis laws.

to convince Justice Johnston in the Supreme Court of BC that the restriction to dried marihuana only is arbitrary, standing as a barrier to patients rights and that the restriction After some consideration does not advance any legitiwe elected to challenge the mate goals of the government.

Owen Smith

K

irk Tousaw is one of Canada’s top Cannabis lawyers. Born in the state of Michigan, Kirk has been an advocate for cannabis legalization since high school. He obtained a degree in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy before moving to Vancouver in 2002. There he completed his Masters thesis on the “Malmo-Levine case” that challenged cannabis prohibition before the Supreme Court of Canada in 2003.

Malmo-Levine lost by a margin of 5-3, the only other time that cannabis has been judged by the nine. He became friends with Marc Emery, a meeting Kirk credits for helping boost his advocacy work.

He soon began working alongside John Conroy at Conroy and Co. where he helped with the success of R.v.Beren, a constitutional challenge to the production limitations on licensed medical cannabis growers. Kirk defends cannabis growers, clubs, and individuals with recreational, medicinal or spiritual purposes: not because the people are bad, but because the laws are bad. Kirk and his family moved to Vancouver Island in 2010, shortly after I was arrested and charged with possession for the purposes of

35

clined to pardon me of the charges, ordering a jury trial to weigh the merits of my actions. The government could not appeal Justice Johnston’s decision until the jury trial was complete.

You can read more from the complete series of articles on the RvSmith Extract trial that was ruled on unanimously by the Supreme Court of Canada in 2015.

Kirk appeared on my time4hemp radio show that you can listen to and download at www.Time4Hemp/pace-radio

(Owen Smith and Kirk Tousaw)

law that prohibits production and trafficking of derivative products as it is defined in the CDSA that is modified by the MMAR (now MMPR). We argued that these laws violate Section 7 of the charter of rights and freedoms: life, liberty and security of the person.

We would also be able to argue on the behalf of patients, as in Canada you cannot be convicted of a law that is unconstitutional, even if that law doesn’t apply directly to you. As an additional thrust for justice we would also attempt to find the government in contempt of previous court rulings, citing the gravely inadequate changes made in response to previous medical cannabis decisions.

Up against two government lawyers, Kirk’s skill at asking questions helped to illuminate the compelling personal stories of the brave and courageous patient witnesses; the scientific detail of our expert witness Dr. David Pate and carved through the testimony of the government’s witnesses.

With Kirk’s help we were able

This decision instantly removed the barrier for patients in BC who would make their own medicinal cannabis products. Justice Johnston declined to find them in contempt and gave the government 1 year to respond. Johnston also de-

(this article previously appeard at LiftCannabis.ca)

Cannabis Digest â&#x20AC;˘ Summer 2016

Issue Number 49

www.CannabisDigest.ca

Memorial: Marc Raquette

Patient Advocate Worked Tirelessly Until Death

by putting them in a situation where they could be sent to jail.

Johnny Dupius Tired of being very anxious and worried for his personal security translated by Hugo St-Onge and those of patients, he finally grabbed the bull by the horns In loving memory of my old time and appealed before the Federal friend Marc Raquette (1955- Court, and he won. His case had 2016) who passed away at the age of 60.

M

y name is Johnny Dupuis, and I knew Marc Raquette very well. It is incredibly hard for me to write this piece, as it makes me feel pretty sad. I first met Marc in the early 2000s at his Hawkesbury home accompanied by a few other activists. For those who might not know, Marc was granted his first exemption in 1999 because he was suffering from fibromyalgia and hepatitis C. Back then, it was extremely difficult to get an exemption to grow and possess marijuana for medical purposes. I would say that Marc truly became an activist when Health Canada failed to renew his license. Unfortunately, there was no similar case law to rely on except for the Parker case.

Quite understandably, Marc was furious that the liberal government could oppress patients

needy, even though some people would turn out to be predators that would steal his pot and his money. He simply was that kind of person.

Marc truly has to be remembered for his website www.medpot.net into which he put a lot of effort. I should stress that his site was among the first to spread out all the relevant info on therapeutic and medicinal marijuana on the internet. He put countless hours into his project, to a point where it affected his health, already made fragile by his illness. But he was determined to pass his message to the world.

When Marc felt weak, I used to bring him to my cottage where he could recharge his batteries.

Marc did not go out much, often because he was experiencing a lot of stress, as he regularly felt the threat of being robbed. But, also been widely covered in the he still loved to go to the cottage media. Although Marc was pret- with my wife Chantale ("georty ill at the time, he still managed gous Chantale", as he used to call to find a way to make a change. her) where they would go berry picking together.

While he was a real activist, Marc was also a man of comI would like to conclude by passion: he was very generous, mentioning that the last 15 days and he would always help the of his life put him in quite a lot

37

of pain, but he was always accompanied by his caring, loving family. Some ten days before he passed away, we were chatting on the phone, and he told me "Chantale, I love you, but I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have much longer to live" I told him to stay positive and that we loved him. He passed away a few days later.

Thanks to Ted Smith who gave me the idea of writing this text for the Cannabis Digest. Many thanks to Robert Nelson who knew Marc; he truly gave me the energy required to write this piece. And a very special thank you to my wife Chantale too.

Thank you, Marc. Please watch over us from wherever you are now and give us the courage and the strength to keep going. You will be deeply missed, my old friend.

Memorial: David “ Guppy Fish “ Easterbrook

39

Gentle Warrior Left Legacy Of Peace

a mixture of premium extracts.

He called it Guppy-Goo. The Bert Easterbrook fun, and the funky glassware almost always guaranteed to leave you on the floor, or at least leave avid “Guppy Fish" your head spinning.

Easterbrook was a lifelong chaser of love and life, who made himself known from coast to coast for his Rainbow suspenders; roller-skates and Coon-skin hat; his dapper, silver adorned chapeau; his moustache; Guppy-Goo; and WibbleTokers, for the consumption of world class Cannabinoids.

D

He started his Cannabis and Spirit journey one fateful Valentines-Day when he returned home from the air-force, and joined his friends to sit in his friend’s newly done up hot rod.

They fired it up to listen to it run, and then someone passed around a joint, his first…well, let’s just His special recipe for spreadsay he started fast ‘cause it was ing goodness was based on recDMT cured. ognizing the hurt and damage in others, and on sharing genuine After enjoying watching things love, support, and respect. Most fly through the car, and blasting importantly, he shared the truth, the radio until the car ran out even when it hurt. He always of gas, he fell in love with Mary did so in the gentlest way posJane and the hippie lifestyle. sible because he knew that “we have all been there.” He could He was already the Huck Finn always be found doling out and Tom Sawyer type, but this tokes, hugs, and sage advice at really started him on his biggest his usual haunts: the Vancouver adventure. It took him all the Seed Bank, The New Amsterway to places like Woodstock, dam Café, and the Cannabis Rochdale College, and Sham- Culture Lounge. bala. He finished his journey, making a world of difference in He loved nothing more than the Vancouver cannabis scene, or watching others grow, and did “Vansterdam.” all that he could to support everyone the same way that they He had always been known supported him. for his genuine love for photography, creativity, love, and of Some of his greatest achievecourse, Cannabis. He had spent ments involved helping to instill a lifetime learning the various love and camaraderie in the commethods of growing and extract- munity, and running a Cannabis ing Cannabis, and became best friendly studio that hosted the known for his product, made of 1st Kush Cup. It was the first,

open to the public, indoor, 4:20 market in Canada. He opened a dispensary, and hobnobbed with some of the biggest names in the scene, like Timothy Leary, Woody Harrelson, and his long time hero, Tommy Chong.

David finished his journey last December when he lost his battle with lung cancer. In the end he was surrounded by loved ones, and comforted by knowing that he had spent a lifetime spreading hope and wellbeing in his community.

He will always be remembered for leaving you feeling warm and fuzzy with a toke, a hug, and his favorite saying: “Thank you for being a part of my dream.”

Cannabis Digest • Summer 2016

Memorial: Reverend Michael James Baldasaro Freedom Fighter Led Church of the Universe

ize it, eat it, wear it and consider it to be a sacrament. The church Reverend C. H. Lawson does not define "God". “God is God”. Members must figure that - A Natural Leader Promoting part out for themselves. "God" Natural Living could be "a heavenly being", "nature", "ancestors", “collective inveryone was his brother or telligence”, "aliens", "evolutionhis sister. He would insist on knowing a police officer’s first name. That officer was “Brother” or “Sister” something. Brother Michael drew out their warmer human side. Almost everyone was charmed by Brother Michael, mayoral candidates who competed with him, the press who wrote about him, artists who sketched his caricatures, the police who arrested him, even his judges and his jailers. From the moment Brother Michael first met Reverend Walter Tucker, one year after Tucker founded the Church of the Universe (1969), they became inseparable friends. ary luck", or whatever one had They accepted the evidence come to believe. This liberty and provided by historian Chris freethinking makes the Church Bennett, myself and others that of the Universe a tolerant and incannabis had been inspiring re- clusive church. Even atheists and ligious thought for as long as in- agnostics can accept it. spired religious thought has been This writer knew Brother Mirecorded. chael and Brother Walter for four decades. It has been his privilege The Church uses the simple to provide expert evidence in metaphorical title, "The Tree their defense. This privilege exof Life", as a reference to can- tended not only to their cases in nabis. The Church of the Uni- Hamilton courts, but also to the verse teaches that cannabis is a Superior Court of Ontario for gift from God (Genesis 1:29). two other Church of the UniChurch members revere canna- verse reverends. bis/hemp: they smoke it, vapor-

E

Brother Michael was intelligent and frequently noted “You can’t kill an idea.” He was a licensed crane operator. He was self-taught in music as a gifted guitarist and self-taught in law, often representing himself. It didn’t hurt to get some legal tips

Brother Walter was promised the right to live and retire on a private property in Puslinch that Walter had named, “Clearwater Abbey”. He built a house there (1969). The promise for his secure retirement was broken (1986) along with all the hearts of those who remember many special occasions there.

The Church was bequeathed (1998) an old steel plant in Guelph which they renamed, “Hempire Village”. Sadly, exposure to extraordinary levels of toxins on the site may have shortened Brother Michael’s life.

Their last public speaking appearance (other than court) was in 2008 at Hamilton’s city approved Hempfest.

from Brother Walter (whose family includes a crown prosecutor and a judge). Brother Michael’s last post on the Internet (May 20) was a short video of Brother Walter explaining that churches are supposedly exempt from civil laws such as the Federal law against marijuana. Both men advocated living healthy lifestyles: the golden rule, balanced diet, and use of herbs. They advocated regular exercise, selfacceptance, acceptance of others and recommended nudism.

To many kids, this gentle giant smiling man with an enormous white beard was Santa Claus on a day off. Brother Michael was best known for his devotion to cannabis and the many court cases that came from it. “We don’t ask permission - God already gave it.” Brother Michael longed for a day in court to assert the constitutional religious right to grow cannabis. His only regret was that people could not grow their own.

Issue Number 49

www.CannabisDigest.ca

HEMPOLOGY 101 WORD SEARCH

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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.

Cannabis Digest • Summer 2016

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 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 PHOENIX PAIN MANAGEMENT SOCIETY 321 Wallace St, Nanaimo 778-441-2661 NORTH ISLAND COMPASSION CLUB Tel:250-871-5207 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 1299 Kingsway, Vancouver Tel: (604) 875-0002 Email: vcmsofficial@gmail.com BUDDHA BARN 2179 West 4th Avenue Vancouver, 604-739-9456, buddhabarn.ca

MED POT NOW SOCIETY 1316 Kingsway , Vancouver Tel: 1-(855)-333-3420 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 SUNRISE MEDICAL FOUNDATION 258 W Broadway 604-877-0211 www.mysunrise.ca THE GREEN RHINO 2570 Granville 1-888-661-5557 www.thegreenrhino.ca 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 EDEN MEDICINAL SOCIETY 161 E. PENDER, Vancouver Tel: 604-568-9337 637 E. HASTINGS, Vancouver Tel: 604-568-9337 www.myeden.ca NELSON COMPASSION CLUB #203-602 Josephine St. Nelsom, BC Tel: 250-354-4206 Email: nelsoncompassion@yahoo.ca T.A.G.G.S 11696 - 224th St., Maple Ridge, BC Tel: 604-477-0557 Fax: 604-477-0575 Email: taggs420@live.com

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 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 Nelson Location: #106 - 601 Front Street

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

Ontario CANNDO Phone: 416-901-7095 Fax; 416-901-7018 Email: Info@CannDo.ca C.A.L.M. Toronto, Ontario Tel: 416-367-3459 Fax: 416-367-4679 Website: www.cannabisclub.ca 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 www.thefarmassists.com *To add your club to this list, please contact: editor@cannabisdigest.ca

Issue Number 49

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