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Marijuana advocate urges police to donate pot seized from him to Ottawa
By Hempology | January 14, 2002
by DIRK MEISSNER, The Canadian Press
January 14th, 2002
VICTORIA (CP) – A book store owner who openly sells marijuana for medicinal
purposes says the large stash police seized from his business should be
donated to Health Canada’s underground marijuana mine in Flin Flon, Man.
There’s no sense wasting the three kilograms of high-grade B.C. pot and
seeds and about 100 marijuana cookies when they can be used to help people
in pain, Ted Smith said Monday.
“This cannabis can be given to Health Canada and they can actually use the
seeds in Flin Flon,” he said in an interview
“This is some of the highest grade marijuana for medical purposes in the
world.”
Victoria police raided Ted’s Books on Jan. 3 after investigating a
complaint that one of Smith’s customers was selling his medical marijuana
on the street.
Smith, 32, said he cut off the customer’s marijuana supply, but that didn’t
stop the police investigation, which has yet to result in charges.
Ted’s Books, which doesn’t have a licence to sell marijuana, has been in
business since last April, Smith said.
“We realize that we cannot get this marijuana back,” he said. “But we also
don’t want to be charged and feel that this medicine should be given to
people who are sick.”
Smith heads the Cannabis Buyers Clubs of Canada, a loosely knit
organization selling marijuana to people with medical problems. There are
about 18 similar clubs across Canada, he said.
New federal regulations came into effect last summer that allow patients
with chronic or terminal illnesses to apply to Health Canada for permission
to use marijuana.
The regulations apply to patients who have less than a year to live; those
suffering from AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries,
severe arthritis or epilepsy or other conditions, if recommended by two
specialists.
A doctor must sign the application, which states the benefits of marijuana
use outweighs the risks.
Health Minister Allan Rock, who spearheaded the medical marijuana
initiative, has said the Flin Flon mine will produce a safe supply source.
Prairie Plant Systems was given a $5.7-million contract to grow the marijuana.
But nobody has yet received any medical marijuana from Flin Flon, Smith said.
“They have given hundreds of people these exemptions and they’ve not given
out a gram,” he said. “They haven’t given out a seed.”
“Clubs like ours have been almost forced to fill this temporary gap and
stick our neck out in public where criminals or the police could come and
do things and we’re not really protected by anyone, except the truth.”
Health Canada officials could not be reached for comment about their
medical marijuana program.
Police spokespeople were also unavailable.
About 800 people buy medical marijuana from Ted’s Books, Smith said.
Customers, who pay up to $215 for 28 grams of marijuana, must provide
documentation that confirms they suffer from some condition that could
benefit from marijuana use, he said.
The proof of diagnosis does not have to be signed by a doctor but it could
come from an insurance company or disability agency, Smith said.
“It is a risk that we’ve taken here providing these services,” he said.
“Technically, this is illegal. Until we’re licensed, everyone in Canada is
sort of making up their own rules.”
(c) Copyright 2002 The Canadian Press
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