Dedicated to facilitating access to a safe supply of cannabis through research, education and advocacy.
*********************************

• A brief history

• CCC press release
• Summer Conference
• Vancouver Millennium Marijuana March

• CALM database (Toronto, Ont )
• Michel Ethier running for mayor (Sturgeon Falls,Ont)
• Grant Krieger resigns from UCC (Calgary)
• Club arrests (Montreal)

• Section 56 Fiasco
• Section 56 Workshop in Ottawa
• Is the government seriously considering a domestic supply of medicinal cannabis?
• Renee Boje's Extradition

• Selling Out?

Welcome to the first Canadian Cannabis Coalition (CCC) newsletter! 

The cultural advantage of being Canadian gives us something we cannot ignore; a country quite different than the United States in many respects. But we still have a ways to go before we see a realistic, common sense approach allowing cannabis to be integrated into our lives and our healthcare system. Fears that things may get worse before they get better may not be unfounded as events such as the Section 56 fiasco and the Montreal club arrests reveal.

A sense of empathy toward our fellow citizens as an innate factor in the national identity, combined with the relentless efforts of activists does make a difference. Canada could conceivably follow the Netherlands in providing leadership in research, regulation and policy. Two very close allies in war again!

Thanks to everyone who contributed and made this newsletter what it is. Offers to help along with letters and submissions are always welcome to ensure this becomes part of the CCC landscape. Volunteers are needed for all newsletter positions , so please let us know how you can help.

Where to find us:

Canadian Cannabis Coalition
P.O. Box 1481
Grand Forks, B.C.
V0H 1H0
ccc@drugsense.org

What is the CCC?

A Brief History

The idea to exchange information and ideas between suppliers of medicinal cannabis and the compassion clubs distributing it, began in April, 1999 as a small email networking list. Other participants joined in and soon a live conference was being planned.

The meeting was held in Grand Forks, B.C on June 12/99. Representatives from many organizations participated in this historic event and the Canadian Cannabis Coalition was born. The name, mission statement and steering committee were decided upon during the one day pow-wow; new friendships and liaisons were forged and a good time was had by all.

Networking continued, and a second meeting was held in Grand Forks on September 5 at which time the mission statement was refined and a Board of Directors elected. Several more organizations became affiliated with us at that time, and others have joined since, increasing the number of participating organizations to over fifteen including five compassion centres.

The Canadian Cannabis Coalition mission statement is:

"The Canadian Cannabis Coalition is dedicated to facilitating access to a safe supply of cannabis through research, education and advocacy".

The combined experience, knowledge, resources and talents of the participants makes the CCC a leading national authority on cannabis.

What's new

CCC Press Release - February 18, 2000:

The Minister of Health, Allan Rock
Tunney's Pasture,
Brooke Claxton Building
Postal Locator 0916A
Ottawa, On
K1A 0K9

Or
1-613-957-0200
Minister Rock's Office
Or
rocka@parl.gc.ca
Or
Carol Bouchard
Manager of Controlled Substances (office dealing with section 56 applicants)
1-613-954-6540
1-613-952-2196 Fax

Voices in a choir,
The Canadian Cannabis Coalition

If you, your organization or compassion club have concerns you would like to see addressed in press releases, please contact us at ccc@drugsense.org or http://drugsense.org/ccc/feedback.htm

When: June 9-11, 2000 

Where: Broadacres Lodge, Grand Forks, B.C.   Canada

Friday: networking, socials
Saturday: Agenda - full day
Sunday: departures

Registration: $5.00

Lodging:

• 9 rooms in the lodge:  $35, each double occupancy
• Unlimited floor space in other buildings: $25 for 2 days,  mattresses on the floor
• Unlimited camping $15.00 for 2 days

Food can be communal

People can arrive Friday any time and should plan to leave by Monday morning, although special arrangements can be made to stay longer. 

For further information or to register and pre-pay to ensure your space:

(250) 442-5166
ccc@drugsense.org 

The Vancouver Millennium Marijuana March

David Malmo-Levine is organizing the Vancouver Millennium Marijuana March for May 6, 2000. David advises the best way to find out what is happening is to go to the "activists and activism" discussion forum at http://www.cannabisculture.com/cgi/wwwthreads/wwwthreads
.pl?action=list&Board=wwwactive - most of the public planning is going on there.

For further information contact David at: dagreenmachine@excite.com

Compassion Club News

Cannabis As Living Medicine (CALM) - Toronto, Ontario

Toronto's compassion club, CALM, wants to start a MMJ database classified by medical condition, ie cancer, HIV, glaucoma, etc.

we are looking for:
a) people to collect/hawk links or articles via the net
b) those who know how set up internet databases
c) anyone wanting to learn about these skills
d) finding volunteers interested in a + b

This should be a collection of links/cut-and-pastes of *scientific* medical articles, and virtually no main stream articles (Star, Post), no LTEs, and no discussions/personal opinions (for now), with the exception of verifiable personal medical testimonies.

Please reply with 'subscribe' to receive/ join this group.

thank you

Neev @ CALM
Cannabis As Living Medicine
Toronto, Canada http://www.lostat.com/calm

Compassionate Cannabis Club - Sturgeon Falls, Ontario

Michel Ethier of the Compassionate Cannabis Club in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario states, "I want to grow acres and acres of cannabis in our city (800 square kilometers of area). This cannabis would be mostly for compassion clubs. I hope that I can have a lot of support on this from the compassion club community. Just think, pounds of cannabis for medical purposes, available at a price range of between $100 and $300 a pound."

Michel also wishes to enter the political arena this year. He says, "I will be having my name on the election ballot for the position of mayor in the November or December 2000 election for West Nipissing. "

Universal Compassion Centre - Calgary, Alberta

The following is the press release issued from the UCC in Calgary:

February 02, 2000

Mr. Grant Krieger, one of the co-founders of the Universal Compassion Centre (UCC) and his son, Adam Krieger, have resigned their positions and are no longer affiliated with the UCC. The board of directors have officially accepted their resignations and wish them well with Grant's cannabis-related Constitutional challenge in Calgary's Court of Queen's Bench.

The non-profit UCC will continue to serve members while seeking to become an authorized distributor of therapeutic cannabis for people with section 56 exemptions. It is our intention to establish a wellness centre to bring together various alternative therapies, practitioners and information for members.

We appreciate your support, assistance and donations.

For further information contact:

Universal Compassion Centre
PO Box 5092, Station A
Calgary, Alberta T2H 1X1

(403)286-4088

ucc@drugsense.org
http://drugsense.org/ucc/

Club Compassion de Montreal - Montreal, Quebec

Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Pubdate: Saturday, 12 Feb 2000
Author: Ingrid Peritz, Quebec Bureau

Medical Marijuana Club Raided

When it comes to smoking marijuana in Montreal, it seems that even a doctor's note is not good enough.

Police proved on Thursday that they're not prepared to be compassionate toward the city's so-called Compassion Club, a storefront site offering medical marijuana. Officers arrested two employees and seized the names of 27 doctors who had recommended pot for their ailing patients.

Apologetic-sounding police said yesterday they had no choice. The federal government can give permission to cultivate and use marijuana for medical purposes, but marijuana "compassion clubs" remain illegal.

"We feel pain for the people who are suffering, but until legislators change the law we have to apply it," Commander AndrÈ Lapointe said. "We're not gloating over this."

Marc St. Maurice and Alexandre NÈron appeared in court yesterday on charges of possessing 66 grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking -- enough to make 150 to 300 cigarettes, "depending on the size," Cdr. Lapointe said.

The raid also raises the possibility of holding doctors criminally responsible for recommending pot to their patients. Police confiscated evidence from physicians who had suggested marijuana use to 33 patients and forwarded it to Crown prosecutors.

The doctors could face charges of counselling someone to commit a criminal offence, Cdr. Lapointe said, adding that prosecutors will decide. He noted that some patients at the club suffered from serious ailments such as AIDS and breast cancer, while others complained of migraines and back pain.

Only one of the members had received a federal exemption for taking marijuana for medicinal purposes.

When the club opened, the director said patients would require a doctor's note or prescription, and were allotted only enough marijuana for personal use. Police say they have been building their case ever since the club opened, and put the club under surveillance -- not very difficult, since it is across the street from a police station.

POLITICS

Section 56 Fiasco

Over the weekend of February 5-6, applicants for the section 56 exemptions were phoned by a government official and told a journalist had broken into an office at Health Canada and stolen information on the applicants.

While the motivation is still unclear,  it exposes how weak security is at Health Canada and has placed the whole process in jeopardy.  Something will be done;  whether it is something superficial like tightening security or more tangible like expediting the process is undetermined until we see what manifests....BUT..... we could hazard a guess.

Section 56 Workshop in Ottawa

A meeting was held by Health Canada under the Controlled Substances and Therapeutic Products Division on Monday 28-Feb-2000, the same day as the federal budget. It was called a 'stakeholder's workshop' where approximately 40-50 people attended. There were exemptees, doctors, various federal agencies, RCMP representatives, nurse and palliative care org reps. It was a very good mix of people, some in key positions, to the credit of HC.

As a caregiver to many people, I offered my services too. Since there was no budget for my consulting fees, I agreed to go pro bono; flight, hotel, and cash-out-of-hand expenses covered.

Of the 10 of the 22 exemptees that were able to attend, all had various medical conditions including nerve damage and rare genetic disorders. One woman came in a wheelchair (and attached hickman line!), while Mr. Messier, an exemptee from Montreal came in on a motorized stretcher. Professional translation was also provided.

The catering manager authorized the federal exemption to smoke cannabis in an out-of-the-way meeting room called the Rotary Room. A Toronto doctor (and many others) agreed it was an excellent idea, long over due, and should be available at all relevant medical gatherings. He also tactfully added that, despite one of HC's objections, the workshop was indeed about decrimilization or legalization, 'its why we're all sitting here'.

The presentations by Dr. Kallant (U of T Pharmacology) and Dr. Musty (U of Vermont) were thorough updates on current established research protocols involving countries from North America and Europe. I addressed two concerns to them:
1) The philosophy that cannabis is a dangerous drug that needs to be curtailed for safety issues, when research indicates it is a relatively safe drug which could be made safer with realistic government regulations.

2) There seemed to be a lack of choice in these 'end-results'. People can choose anesthetic by gas, pill, or needle; those on pharmaceutical anti-depression can grow their St. John's Wort. Sprays, patches and suppositories are valid goals, but in the end it sounds like technology will be developed, sick people will take them, or they will go to jail.

An exemptee with HIV from Toronto made an excellent observation that with HIV combination therapy there are drugs that will deteriorate the digestive system, the liver, or kidneys. Given that Health Canada's main argument of lung damage under constant or heavy use, how is choosing this side-effect worse or different?

NIDA is willing to supply Canada, except that each joint ends up costing $12 Cdn, to the astonishment of the crowd. First the US dominates the heroin trade in the 70s, then cocaine in the 80s, now they want to corner the ganja market too!!!

The presentations were thorough and only limited time was left ask the presenters direct questions. Ultimately, in the middle of all this research, they are not sure what they are dealing with exactly and working with the underground movement is not the way to do things.

Dr Kilby talked about his experience with Mr. Parriseau, in that he felt obligated to 'go public' when he and his wife were arrested 2 days after Dr Kilby said they had very little to worry about. He told me that there were no professional consequences to advising people about MMJ, but doctors risk being shunned by their extreme conservative colleagues, and worse, you get known by the public as Dr. Pot; people come out of the woodwork looking for a prescription, supply, or business plans. Dr. Kilby said the only criticism he received was about the legal and judicial 'can or worms' he's opened in supporting his patient; more than going against OMA guidelines or towing the party line.

After a very nice lunch buffet, we were broken up into 4 groups (at random) to brainstorm some ideas a) submission process b) physician conerns c) approval process d) 3rd party interests

I was in group d) with some exemptees, people from Casey House, various nursing orgs, and RCMP Drug Awareness. They asked us questions like who should be at the next stakeholder's workshop, what can Health Canada immediately fix with sec.56. Most obvious was the need for a source of marijuana for safe supply, followed by education to all related organization especially police, caregiver's, physicians, and Health Canada. (Incidentally, an exemptee from Oshawa told me he went to Durham Police Academy to talk with recruits about his use of medicinal cannabis and drug laws.) New ideas that were mentioned were liability and insurance (for nurses, orgs, caregivers, and exemptees), caregivers must be exempt, and literacy to educate people and remove the criminal mystique around cannabis use.

We all came back into the same room and shared the top three brainstorm ideas. Essentially, everyone agreed that HC is over concerned about criminality with s56 exemptions, marijuana literacy is a must.

HC was very specific about keeping their cards close, but it became evident that HC is not mentally prepared to accept medicinal cannabis, and much work must be done. An exemptee from Kitchener said it best, "This workshop is an important huge teeny-weeny baby step forward".

I enjoyed meeting the exemptees most. They all seem to be very intelligent individuals, most with a story they feel needs to be told. The Rotary Room was a breakthrough in itself, and I hope to see more arrangements like that in the future.

What was most obvious to me over the course of this day, was that cannabis clubs have no place in a legal market where anyone with a medical need can get marijuana. We are so far away from that day, that clubs (activism) are the solution until the government genuinely fixes the problem.

Neev @ CALM
Cannabis As Living Medicine
Toronto, Canada