What inspired Canadian
activists to build the framework
for a united voice to represent a
diverse cross-section of the
cannabis movement?
What led to transforming a steering
committee into a board of directors, into
a general consensus, and maybe beyond?
Actually, the Canadian Cannabis
Coalition (CCC) unintentionally manifested
from collective and conventional
cannabis
wisdom, gaining
definition in
response to the
ever-changing
cannabis climate.
It has no
budget, salaries, offices or officials, just
the strong and steadfast convictions of
people who have expressed themselves
on-line or at meetings. These dialogues
have led to interesting and lively discussions,
debates, changing structures and
some proud accomplishments.
Throughout these formative years, the
CCC has been leaderless, but not rudderless,
as driving forces steer it through
unchartered waters.
The earliest incarnation began as a
small e-mail networking list, set up in
April 1999 by Deb Harper, to explore
the idea of creating industry standards
within the medicinal cannabis movement
(1) and to exchange information
between compassion clubs and other
interested parties. In June of that year,
list members and other activists met at a
gathering, initiated and hosted by Brian
and Teresa Taylor and friends in Grand
Forks, B.C., (2) to further discuss the
role for the fledgling medicinal cannabis
network. It was decided among the
approx. 20 participants who represented
wide-ranging interests from non-government
organizations (NGO's), entrepreneurs,
professionals and grass-roots
activists, that the propagation of a broad
unifying entity encompassing the whole
cannabis community would be more
desirable.
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June 2000 - Third CCC meeting at Broadacres in Grand Forks B.C.
- photo Deb Harper
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A name, the Canadian Cannabis
Coalition, and a purpose - a nation-wide
umbrella organization
for cannabis
organizations and
activists - was
agreed upon. A
mission statement
was crafted, "The
Canadian Cannabis Coalition is dedicated
to facilitating access to a safe supply of
cannabis through research, education and
advocacy", and an interim steering committee
was elected.
Networking continued over the internet,
a website was designed, (3) and a
second meeting was held in Grand Forks
on September 5th (4) that brought several
more organizations on board. The
number of attendees almost doubled by
the next meeting that was held once
again in Grand Forks in June of 2000.
(5) The last annual get-together happened
in October 2001, hosted by Matt
Elrod and friends on Vancouver Island.
The undaunting task of creating a position
that represents so many within the
movement has produced tangible results
on several occasions. A press release
issued in February 2000 stated the CCC
would re-evaluate its "unwritten policy
of encouraging people to apply for section
56 exemptions to the Controlled
Drugs and Substances Act in
direct response to the government's
obvious mismanagement of
the process". (6) On August 2nd,
2000, an open letter to Health
Minister Allan Rock, precipitated
by Rielle Capler of the British
Columbia Compassion Society
(BCCCS), specifying
recommendations for
the upcoming clinical
trials (7) was noticed by the media. (8)
A group project to develop documents to
file for intervenor status at the upcoming
Supreme Court case of Malmo-
Levine, Caine and Clay was initiated and
is now pending.
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Dr. Paul Hornby and Hilary Black - photo Deb Harper
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The voices of the CCC have also been
heard in a more individualistic fashion.
An on-line newsletter (9)written and compiled
by Deb Harper was published on
the website in the spring of 2000, which
highlighted some individuals, members
and events of CCC. The responses from
participating organizations to the
Medical Marijuana Access Regulations
were also posted between April 7th
and May 7th, 2001, as there was no official
CCC position. (10) The CCC's networking
list has approx. 65 subscribers
representing 40 organizations from
Vancouver Island to Nova Scotia and
international affiliates from the U.S. and
Australia. Currently the focus is on
issues the government is refusing to deal
with that are vital to medicinal cannabis
users such as practical regulations and a
distribution system. Members also have
court cases pending at every level of
court system in this country.
The coalition advises persons who
contact it concerning medicinal
cannabis, legal problems or other
cannabis-related issues. Cannabis
experts within the CCC have the
ability to consult, make
recommendations, hold conferences,
design research protocols, develop
products and services, and devise a
regulatory framework. By default,
the combined experience, knowledge,
resources and talents of the
participants assert the
CCC's role as a leading national
authority on cannabis.
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Copyright © by Canadian Cannabis Coalition All Right Reserved. Published on: 2005-03-11 (9057 reads) [ Go Back ] |
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