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The Bud – Summer 2002

By Hempology | June 10, 2002

The Bud

The newsletter of Victoria’s Hempology 101 Society


In this issue:




Health Canada Continues to Stumble and Bumble


It’s been over a year since the mine in Flin Flon, Manitoba was renovated to be a makeshift
industrial-level grow-op, and in all that time the brains in the bureaucracy haven’t learned
how to grow quality medicine. The THC level registered in the plants is laughable – comparable
to that found in industrial hemp. In any event, the cannabis grown in this mine, supposedly for
medicinal purposes, hasn’t seen a single sufferer. Withholding medicine isn’t the only injustice
taking place – despite all the recent medical research and social progress, medicinal users and
those who help them are still being harassed unnecessarily. A number of growers for Calgary’s
Grant Krieger Foundation are in prison or fighting charges. Even Grant’s own nephew is looking
at being locked up for trying to help people.

Canadians Make A Stand


Since the change in regulations regarding Federal Exemption (supposedly for the purpose of
helping those who need access to cannabis get it) many people who would have been eligible
for the Section 56 exemption (the exemption prior to the current regulations) have been
turned away or have had their applications held up with red tape while they suffer. Those who
HAVE successfully obtained licenses are left to fend for themselves on the black market, while
more than 250 kilos of federally-grown cannabis are sitting untouched, collecting dust. Six
Ontario residents are taking actions to change this by suing the Federal Government for access
to the constrained strains.


VICTORIA CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTS CANNABIS AS MEDICINE


In a recent meeting of the Victoria City Council, a unanimous motion was passed declaring cannabis
the lowest priority of local police enforcement: “Victoria City Council expresses its support for
the decriminalization of marijuana (cannabis) use and possession, particulaly for medicinal purposes,
in Canada and request that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) undertake efforts to
influence the federal government to amend or repeal applicable laws.” Councillor Rob Fleming stated
that in this case “society is way ahead of lawmakers” and that arresting and prosecuting people for
medical marijuana use is something the police and courts no longer have interest in. The City
Council has also asked that Health Canada send a representative to Victoria to explain exactly
what goals and plans Health Canada has for the medical cannabis issue, and what actions are being
taken to achieve these goals.

TED vs. THE STATE

Busted Again! Trials Delayed Again!


On March 21st the Cannabis Buyers’ Clubs of Canada headquarters was victimized yet again by the
Victoria Police. Sergeant Darren Laur took a statement from someone who was “well known by Laur
to be an intravenous drug user” allegedly stating that the quarter ounce of cannabis he was
carrying was from the CBCoC, and that he intended to sell the cannabis to buy cocaine. Sergeant
Laur, suspected of coercing this witness, then took the statement to a judge and instead of
prosecuting the alleged member for selling his medicine, convinced the judge to give him a
warrant allowing him to conduct another search and seizure. After 1 night in jail, Ted was released
from his fourth arrest on $1,000 bail, now with 6 charges pending. Aside from the bail cost, the
club lost over $15,000 worth of medicine and cash. Ted’s trials and constitutional challenges have
been delayed pending a ruling by the Supreme Court on the Clay/Caine/Malmo-Levine case coming up
next spring.


As a result of this incident, Ted Smith has resigned as coordinator of the CBCoC and president of
Victoria’s Hempology 101 Society, mainly because he’s a heatscore. In a further attempt to protect
himself as well as the CBCoC and its members, Ted isn’t even setting foot on the premises of the
business.

HELP The Federal Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs FIGHT PROHIBITION



Write (before July 1st) to:


40 Elgin Street, 10th floor

Ottawa, Ontario

K1A 0A4


Fax: (613)943-7867

E-Mail: iddi@sen.parl.gc.ca

Web: www.parl.gc.ca/illegal-drugs.asp


QUESTIONS TO ANSWER:


  1. Do you agree with the conclusions of the Committee?


  2. Research we have received to date does not support criminalization and penalization of cannabis.
    Do you share this view?


  3. Studies appear to indicate that the current policy may cause more harm than good.
    Do you agree? Why?


  4. We know youth will smoke cannabis, if only because of the rebellion of adolescence. is prohibition
    is the right way to define what is allowed and what is not?

  5. Should public policies aim to prevent use or minimize the negative consequences of use?


  6. Do you feel that more liberal policies will have little effect on increasing or decreasing use
    patterns?


  7. If we were to adopt a more liberal approach to cannabis, should it factor in the reaction of the
    USA?


  8. What should be done to advance the debate regarding the Senate’s ability to influence Governmental
    change?


SUMMER CONTESTS

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