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UVSS HEMPOLOGY 101 CLUB LESSON #11 : HISTORY OF Cannabis Buyers' Clubs of Canada - Part 1 |
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In Sept ’95, Hempology 101 started in Victoria by Ted Smith. Shortly after, in Nov, the medical use of cannabis quickly became an international issue after Prop. 215 passed in California. Many people came to meetings with serious medical problems looking for a Cannabis Buyers Club like the one in San Francisco. Ted met Leslie, who made cannabis cookies and salve and decided to open a CBC in Victoria, the first compassion club in the country in Jan 1996. With a pager and pamphlet, Ted began deliveries from his van to people with permanent, physical disabilities and diseases. The club got an apartment that spring, where for about 5 years the group slowly grew. Responsibility for the CBC was almost given to Phil Lucas in ‘99 when he started the Vancouver Island Compassion Society, until Ted realized VICS would only help people with doctor’s recommendations and turns its back upon sick people without doctor’s support. On Nov 15, 2000, Ted was arrested at the annual cookie give-away on International Medical Marijuana Day. In March ‘01, Ted was told by Victoria police to get a store for the CBC, as they were arresting another person in the apartment building for selling cannabis. On April 1, ‘01, Ted’s Books opened on Johnson St., helping the club become more accessible and functional. In Jan 2002, a CBC was started in Halifax N.S., by John Cook, making the club coast-to-coast. On Jan 3, ‘02, police were brought to the Victoria club by an ex-member who was cut-off for reselling cannabis. A search was consented to and the store was allowed to stay open, though charges were laid one month later. The store was raided with a warrant on March 21, ’02, when Ted was last arrested and the name Ted’s Books was taken down and replaced with ‘under renovations’. The store was raided again June 21, ‘02, and finally on Feb 17, ‘03. Constant efforts were made to inform Victoria City Council about police raids, Health Canada and the plight of medical users. This resulted in a resolution in April ‘02 supporting the medical use of cannabis and the city officially declaring Nov 15 as International Medical Marijuana Day. While waiting for the trials, the International Hempology 101 Society applied for a bookstore license on Johnson St. but was turned down in a 7-2 vote by city council. The two who voted in our favor are now elected to higher positions: Rob Fleming represents the NDP in the provincial government and Denise Savioe, also with the NDP, represents Victoria in the Federal government. On Sept 7, ‘04, Madam Justice Chaperon granted an acquittal to Ted and Colby Budda for charges laid in the first raid. In the next trial on Jan 7, ‘05, Madam Justice Harvey convicted Ted for selling cannabis resin in food and skin products, after the charges of trafficking cannabis were dropped.
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Ted filed the appeal himself and the Department of
Justice decided to give in and allow the decision to be overturned without
argument in court. All other charges were thrown out in court due to
lack of evidence. In total, 11 various trafficking charges were
beaten by the club from these raids. In ‘05 in Halifax, the club had
cannabis intercepted on the bus. Charges were dropped by the crown before
the case was seen by a judge. In March ‘06, the City of Victoria
wrote a letter to Health Canada, stating that the MMAR were ineffective
and inadequate, and needed to be completely reviewed. The club
currently sells 11 edible cannabis products and 11 cannabis skin products
to about 1900 members in Victoria and 75 members in
Halifax. |
| International Hempology 101
Society www.hempology.ca |
Cannabis Buyers' Clubs of Canada www.cbc-canada.ca |
