Issue-10stonerschematics.com/wp-content/Documents/Issue_10_Cannabis_Health.pdfCANNABIS HEALTH...

2 CANNABIS HEALTH Journal

Editorial ........................................................................................... 4

Letters.................................................................................................................................. 5

Cannabis Economics.................................................................................................... 6Quentin Hardy comments on the emerging economics of cannabis .

Glass Glass Glass .............................................................................................................8Economics of the glass pipe industry.

Herbal Vaporizers ........................................................................................................10An expert tells all.

Cannabusiness.................................................................................................................11Lisa Kirkman has the solution for Cannabis Business.

Beyond Prohibition.....................................................................................................12A look at how legal marijuana would fit into our economy.

CRI and Cannabis Health Foundation................................................................13Organizational structure.

Seattle Hemp Fest. ......................................................................................................15Don’t miss this summer event.

Trans Global Hemp Co. ..............................................................................................15Hemp business review.

Surviving SARS ...............................................................................................................16Business review.

Canadian Medical Marijuana Rules for Access ...................................17

Reaction to Canada’s new Marijuana Access Laws ............................19

Spocannabis ........................................................................................21Cliff Chadwell and Darren McCrae.

Third National Conference on Clinical Cannabis ..............................22Patients out of Time

Off the Wire .......................................................................................24Up to date news clips.

Cooking with Cannabis......................................................................25Rip Ready tells you some basics .

Power Theft........................................................................................26An interview with BC Hydro may be a shock to you.

Grow-op Hysteria ...............................................................................26Tim Meehan asks “Who’s doing the illegal thing?”

CD Review...........................................................................................27Killaloe Rastaman by Rick Reimer.

Sublingual Absorption........................................................................28Another alternative to smoking or eating cannabis.

Spring Planting ..................................................................................29

Friendly Business Directory..............................................................................29,30,31,32Where you can pick up your issue of Cannabis Health

Marc Emery letter to the editor ....................................................................................32

Medical Cannabis help listings........................................................................................32

I N S I D E @ C A N N A B I S H E A L T H www.cannabishealth.com

Editor: Brian Taylor - Production: Brian McAndrew - Sales: Lisa Smith -Accounting Barb Cornelius - Distribution: Lorraine Langis - Shipping &Store: Gordon Taylor - Web: Brian McAndrew.Cannabis Health is published 6 times per year by Cannabis Health Foundation, P.O. Box 1481,Grand Forks, B.C. Canada V0H 1H0, Phone: 1-250-442-5166 Fax: 1-250-442-5167No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form, print or electronic, without writtenpermission of the publisher. For advertising information use phone or fax or e-mail:[email protected]. Cannabis Health is also reproduced on the web in downloadablepdf format at cannabishealth.com/archive.html.

The Cannabis Health Foundation was formed in the spring of2002 as a non-profit foundation.

Our mandate as a non-profit foundation is to provide accurate up-to-date informationon Cannabis Marijuana and Cannabis Hemp in a conservative style magazine thatappeals to the general public. We are pleased to announce the journal is now beingmade available to: Government health organizations, patient support groups, medicalassociations, research foundations and other cannabis related corporations at the verylow bulk distribution rate of: $1.00 per copy + shippingAdvertisers in the journal receive up to 300 free copies per issue.

SUBSCRIPTION / DISTRIBUTION INFORMATIONIf you would like to receive 6 copies per year of the most informative resource for med-ical marijuana available, subscribe to Cannabis Health by sending your name andaddress to Cannabis Health Foundation, P.O.Box 1481, Grand Forks, B.C., V0H 1H0$25cdn in Canada (USA send $45.00cdn and foreign send $75.00cdn)

Bulk distribution rates in boxes of 100 at $1.00 per issue plus shipping. E-mail: [email protected]

C O V E R

This cover is how weenvisioned what a farm-gate label might look likein the future billion-dollarlegal cannabis industry.This concept came out ofa collective brainstormingsession, and thanks to ourProduction Manager,Brian McAndrew, soonevolved into Uncle Gord ,Store Manager and Lorraine Langis, our DistributionManager, standing in front of a superimposedcannabis field in our own back yard. We chose theconcept of the farm-gate model as our local commu-nity’s climate is well suited to entertain this possibil-ity, after all BC is known forit’s Bud. We hope this coverwill inspire all of you cre-ative entrepreneurs to take alook at what your visionmight look like.

Thanks goes to theCannabible 2 by Jason King(http://www.thecannabible.com) for the picture ofthe Swiss field used in the mock label.

The photo of John Conroy QC inissue #9 was incorrectly credited. Thephotographer was Trudy Greiff. Ourapologies for the error.

http://www.thecannabible.com

4 C A N N A B I S H E A L T H J o u r n a l

E D I T O R @ C A N N A B I S H E A L T H

Welcome to the Cannabis Health annualreview of economics in the cannabis indus-try. An industry where the landscape is rap-idly changing and the playing field is notonly uneven but full of potholes. HealthCanada has announced new open and moreinclusive regulations for access to medicalmarijuana. Sativix, the under the tonguespray, is about to be released into the NorthAmerican market, cannabis will soon beavailable in some BC pharmacies andcannabis is on the ballot as both the US andCanada approach elections.

The economic pressures are building inCanada. York Region is raising taxes 6.3 percent, or $91 on the average home, this year,voting for a plan to put 110 more police offi-cers on the street to protect the community

from the scourges and dangers of grow-ops. The Canadian parliament continues to

struggle with passing Bill C-10, once knownas the Marijuana Decriminalization Bill, nowappropriately known as the “AlternativeCriminal Penalty” Bill. Although no one likesit, pundits are divided as to whether C-10will be passed before or after the Canadianelections.

I worry that, we will be like the trapperswho opened up the forests and the plains butin the end, were never included in the wealthas the country grew and prospered. In theend becoming second class citizens in theirown land. A bit melodramatic, but in fact thecannabis community is engaged in an emo-tional dialogue on the future. One sector saysgo mainstream, play ball from the inside ofthe game, another group cat calls “sell outs”.Cannabis users come in all political stripesand activists are busy arguing capitalism vs.socialism while the real capitalists are takingover. I invite those that have opened thedoors and fought the battles to help shapethis new industry to create progressiveorganizations and prosper along with thegrowth of this new industry. Less navel gaz-ing, more action.

“Cannabis people are fierce individualists.Normal group dynamics don’t apply,

and when people figure that out, they willfigure out the reason for prohibitionin the first place.” (Tim Meehan)

The Canadian government recentlyannounced plans to award one additionalmarijuana supply contract. This is a mistake!The new progressive medical access regula-tions will not work unless patients arehappy with the government product. Notresponding to the supply needs of an increas-ing number of consumers will result in morepatients being forced to grow their own,more patients buying from the undergroundand more distribution clubs. The directionwe are proceeding will create enormous chal-lenges for patients, Health Canada and lawenforcement.

To accommodate the volume of requests,we will be extending the short profiles onnew businesses over the next two editions.

Be sure to catch the interview withQuentin Hardy. I would like to thankQuentin for his objective reflections, hisinsights and for the risks he took in doing theoriginal story in Forbes.

And also for his blunt warning, like it ornot, the capitalists are coming.

Dear Cannabis HealthI have recently been reading a lot in the

news, about the estimated value of theCanadian Marijuana Industry. ForbesMagazine reported the industry is generatingUS$7bn in the province of British Columbiaalone. CBC News said “Although B.C.’s mari-juana industry is often touted as theprovince’s largest cash crop, Ontario’s marketis much bigger, estimated at $1 billion a year.”

CBC News Online, ran a story by JohnBowman, on Jan. 13, 2004 about the Molsonbrewery grow operations in Barrie, Ont. Thepolice reportedly said that this was thelargest and most sophisticated marijuanagrow operation in Canadian history, with anestimated street value of $30 million per cropand/or $100 million annually.

I don’t know who or how these grow oper-ation are valued, but the numbers don’t seemto add up.

I also read the RCMP weighs the total wetplant material found at any grow site, stems,roots, leaves, etc. and then use that poundagewhen calculating values. However, theDRIED bud is the only saleable part of themarijuana plant. Dried clean weight is 1/4 to1/6 of the wet weight.

The amount of plants in a grow operationis also not relevant when estimating dollar

value, the number of lights however is. Youcan have 100 plants per light (Sea of Green)or 6 plants per light (Christmas trees), and

you will only produce the same amount -the amount of lumens will determine themaximum yield of the crop, usually

L E T T E R S

cartoon by Glenn Smith from Osoyoos, B.C. Email Glen at [email protected]

Brian Taylor Editor-in-Chief

C A N N A B I S H E A L T H J o u r n a l 5

between 1 to 2 lbs per light. Even at the highest retail price of $12.8 mil-

lion annually, this is not even close to thereported $100 million dollar annual operationin Barrie, Ont. Where are they, the RCMP, get-ting their stats and why are they over-inflatingthe value? Could it be to justify the amountthey spend on marijuana related expenditures?

What we really need is an accurate account-ing of the true value of not only a single bust,but of the whole Canadian and US Marijuanaindustries.

L E T T E R SSo here is the math:1 x 1000 watt HPS grow light = 1 to 2 lbs = average 1.5 lbs per light1000 grow lights x 1.5 lbs per light = 1500 lbs per cycleEstimated Values:

Retail market value (street value) $200 per oz = $3200 lbHealth Canada’s price $150 per oz = $2400 lb Wholesale price $125 per oz = $2000 lb4 Crops per year1000 lights x $2000 per lb = 2 million x 4 = 8 million (wholesale)1000 lights x $2400 per lb = 2.4 million x 4 = 9.6 million (Health Canada’s price)1000 lights x $3200 per lb = 3.2 million x 4 = 12.8 million (top end street value)

Dear EditorThe distribution through pharmacies will

mean the loss of a holistic, personalapproach, delivered exclusively through ourcurrent compassion club system. Alternativetherapy and support service deliveredthrough a club system increases wellness. Dowe really want to see cannabis distributionbe cold and sterile like our current pharma-ceutical distribution? What makes a compas-sion club what it is? The people. Theresources. The support. Through creating anetwork of fellow medicinal cannabis users,clubs allow consumers to access crucial peersupport for coping with their dis-eases andaccess allies with whom they can feel com-fortable, knowing that they share the choiceto use cannabis as medicine. What we havecreated in our existing system of club distri-bution is what the standard health care sys-tem needs to aspire to. Holistic, comprehen-sive care with choice. We can not afford tolose what has been created.Teresa Taylor, Social Worker, CannabisActivist, Past Federal Marijuana PartyCandidate

It’s not much but I wish it were more.

Thank you very much for Cannabis HealthJournal. I fell asleep while reading Volume 1,Issue 1 and went into a diabetic sweat and Iended up trashing that very first issue Ibelieve. There seems to be so many of them.I hope you have one to send to me please, ittops my collection. Thanks for the fronts ofVolume 2, Issue 1 and Volume 2, Issue 2. Ifyou can, could you please send it along withmy regular subscription? Good stuff inMarch/April edition.

I’m sending along a $5.00 donation withmy subscription. It’s not much and I wish itwere more. Thanks.

B. Miller, BC

Cannbis Health Top 100 in New ZealandCannabis Health is an excellent publica-

tion. Keep up the style and on-line accessibil-ity. There are many matters of merit withthat. In light of the New ZealandGovernment’s review of cannabis legislation,Cannabis Health should be made available inour parliamentary library to quote as asource. BTW, New Zealand is the only coun-try in the western world where, subsequent

to an election of a minority party, “confi-dence and supply” or the right to draw acheque on the treasury is governed by anagreement that cannabis is off the agenda.

We need the extra exposure. CannabisHealth website is in the top 100 websites inNZ. Anyway, superb effort and big thumbsup to all your staff and contributors.

B Anderson, NZ

From IranWith greeting and desire of the best success

and prosperity in all of your lifetimes. If pos-sible, please send us copies of your compa-ny’s magazines to the mentioned address.

Best wishes Ali, Iran

Thanks CH; you’re doing a great job. Just an ordinary guy.

Recently SeenPicture below was sent to us from a

subscriber in Vancouver. Thanks Alan.

FIND NED’S HEAD AND WIN THIS PIPE FROM WONG BONG PIPESSend the page # and location of Neds head via snail mail to Cannabis Health at

Box 1481 Grand Forks BC Canada V0H 1H0. All correct answers will be enteredin a draw for this beautiful glass pipe from Wong Bong PipesThis pipe is made from high quality borosillicate glass. It’s fumed with silver for a yel-low/blue irridescent hue and overlaid color. The colour is to minic a pipe still red hot,

the bowl end being worked. The bowl is spiderweb trailed with crayon orange, fading to dark ruby,light cobalt, cobalt and then dark cobalt. This pipe is nice and thick and the winner may requestthe carb hole on the left or right side.

Deadline for receiving entries is May 30, 2004


Quentin Hardy is the Silicon Valley BureauChief of Forbes Magazine. He joined Forbes in1999 from The Wall Street Journal, where hecovered wireless technology from the paper’sSan Francisco bureau, and wrote aboutJapanese banks and financial markets duringa 6-year stint in Tokyo. He first wrote aboutcannabis in Canada for a front-page Journalstory on the Internet-based seed business, anddecided to follow that up with a cover story forForbes while in Vancouver for a business story.“Talking to a couple of old contacts, I realizedthat the cannabis business had evolved intosomething very big and sophisticated,” Hardysays. He never got around to his original storyin Vancouver.

Cannabis Health opened the interview withQuentin by explaining that in the past fewmonths, we have been flooded by new prod-ucts. We have no less than 5 new vaporizers inthe store, various designs and prices. Everyoneis knocking off everyone else in this lawlessand sometimes ruleless environment. “Soundslike what you would expect in a classic earlystage industry,” he said confidently, anotherconfirmation of the original hypothesis thatdrew him back to BC for a second time in thefall of 2003. Flying solo, and with the help ofvarious activists and the RCMP, he toured theemerging BC marijuana industry. His articlesappeared in the November edition of ForbesMagazine. In this, the second annual econom-ic report, CHJ contacted Quentin to find outhow this coverage in Forbes was received inAmerica, and to see if Quentin could offer usany insights into Canada’s current situation.

Cannabis Health: So tell me what impactdid your articles have?

Quentin: The story was the best sellingconventional cover of Forbes last year asidefrom our annual rich list, despite aDoubletree Inn in Huntsville, Alabama refus-ing to stock it. For every amount of resistancethere was a greater amount of interest. I wasrecently on a talk show on the governmentnetwork, C-Span. I talked for 45 minutes,interviewing people from all around thecountry, and I think there was one anti. I wastruly astounded by the level of support. Nowyou have to take into consideration thatactivists will call in when others won’t. Therewas an immense amount of support and theemails, I lost count. Last time I checked theywere running 7 to 1 in favor. I tried to strikea neutral position, so in many ways this wasa Rorschach. Most average people didn’t seethe point of the current system.

CH: I know this is first a financial story,but the observations that you made, that thebackbone of the industry is “An army of ordi-nary people” contradicts Canadian and USpositions that this industry is controlled byBikers and organized crime. Did this obser-vation not bring down some heat on you orthe magazine?

Quentin: Yeah, we took a certain amountof heat from anti-drug groups in Florida, wewere banned from the prison system in Texasand Indiana, as I recall. They had lawsagainst any information getting to prisonersthat would enable them to make drugs. Andthere I was, pointing out that if you put seedsin dirt they will grow. (Laughing) Clearly, itwas an invitation to devious behavior.

I don’t think most people want to engage indebate on that level. I think they like thingsthe way they are and why engage in debatethat might cause controversy. You knowthings like the current drug laws and studentloans; they don’t want to shed light on thiskind of thing, it’s too preposterous.

Speaking of being come down on, I wasrecently on a show called The O’ReillyFactor; by the way, he’s no fan of Canadians.He was citing statistics that show for a longtime Canadian and American underage con-sumption rates were running at about thesame level. Recently, however, Canadian con-sumption rates have increased and naturally,he attributes this to the more liberalCanadian attitude. You know, I have my ownconcerns about underage consumption.

CH: Your co-workers, how did they react?Quentin: To my astonishment, the people

I thought would be pro were anti and viceversa. The editor emeritus of Forbes, whomust be 80 years old, he and I were on TV

C A N N A B I S E C O N O M I C S

Quentin Hardy


arguing for decriminalization. And theyounger Steve (Forbes) of course, is againstthis, arguing “it’s just a gateway drug, etc”…,but this guy is old enough to remember pro-hibition and he wasmaking that analogy.

CH: Did anyonequestion why youwould choose to coverthis story at all?

Quentin: BasicallyForbes is interested inthis as a financialstory. You know whatthey say in journalism,“Follow the money”.If you want to under-stand something, fig-ure out the businesspart. You know, I did-n’t get a lot of pushback, in part because Iwas giving a report onan economic/businesssituation and myreporting gave me an insight that I thoughtwas very powerful, that is; in an area thathas lost its fishing, timber, cattle and miningindustries, this is a reasonably or highlylucrative business with very little social dis-approval and a reasonably low level of risk,so people have gravitated to it.

As much as we see the Molson bust as themarquee bust, what’s probably going on is anenormous informal network of people grow-ing four and five lights and winning animportant secondary income in their house.And because it’s such a loosely structurednetwork, it’s like the internet; it’s going to bevery, very hard to stamp it out. You may beable to take down the Hell’s Angels and youmay be able to take down the Big Circle Boys,given a high level of infiltration and strongracketeering laws, but it’s very, very hard totake down a dispersed, localized network.

CH: So we are now an industry, where arethe visionary entrepreneurs? Where is thecapital?

Quentin: They are here, you showed methe entrepreneurs. They are the pipe compa-nies, glass companies, vaporizer companies.They’re crawling out of the woodwork. Isaw some very sophisticated operations thatentrepreneurs were carrying on. Well, yes,they don’t have access to a lot of capital, andthe kind of people they get capital from willswallow their businesses, so they’re wise notto borrow. I knew a guy who was outsourc-ing seasonal immigrant labor and was plan-ning to bring in a number of Mexican labor-ers to live on a mountain side for thesummer. Talk about entrepreneurial activity,I have met guys who stockpile during thelow-price season and put it in lockers andsold it in the summer.

CH: You had a chance to look at thingsfrom both sides, you spent time with thegrowers and the RCMP, what was that like?

Quentin: There are plenty of people in theRCMP that just want todo their job well.They’re enforcing thelaw, they’re not bad peo-ple, and they see thingsdifferently. The issue isup in the air in Canada,it’s a social football. Atthe risk of offendingyour readers, so muchof Canada’s businesshappens in the contextof what goes on in theUnited States and it’s solucrative because thelaws are so much worsein the US and thedemand is so high andthe prices are so highbecause of the US.

CH: I have some prob-lems with the amounts we are supposedlyexporting.

Quentin: So how much of what you growin Canada do you think goes down to the US?Anything that I’ve written on in Canadacould easily have been duplicated for theUnited States,except I might getshot reporting on it.There are enormousparallels to theimpoverished por-tions of the US. Yougo to Arkansas orAlabama wherethere are difficulttimes for farmingcommunities, I haveno doubt they’redoing the samething.

CH: How did youdraw some of yourconclusions?Canadians like tothink we are leadersand that we offerthe US moral andethical enlighten-ment.

Quentin: Yes, butfrom a businessstandpoint, the eco-nomics are gov-erned by what hap-pens in the US.Your dope priceswould collapse ifnot for the USdemand. I want you

to look at what happened to the price of mar-ijuana in Vancouver immediately after 9-11.The wholesale price of cannabis dropped 30%just on the expectation that the border crossingwould be tougher. There was massive backlogin Canada and the prices just collapsed. That’syour end market, that’s your price determi-nant. Look at how much is being grownbetween Grand Forks and Nelson. If everysingle person lit up at 10AM and smoked allday, you think you could get through it all?Canadians have a massive surplus.

You need to pay attention to guys likeStephen Easton, Professor of Economics, atSimon Fraser University in BC. He is doingsome legitimate work looking at therisk/return ratio, being a grower and dis-counting for the likelihood of arrest. I under-stand Stephen will be publishing his analysesof the marijuana economy in the next fewmonths. The guy is great and influenced myown analyses.

CH: How about some advice for Canadians,we cannot decide if we want this industrycontrolled by big corporate marijuana busi-ness or set up more like the wine model offarm gate. The cannabis activist communityfears the unfeeling stereotypical corporatedomination of this fledgling industry.

Quentin: Face it, Brian; you’re a gentle lit-tle man living out in the country. My beat is



The economics of the glass industry is in aconstant state of evolution. Laws constantlychange around the world creating many riftsin the culture and re-evaluation of a lifestyleonce taboo. The advent of e-trade (businesson the internet) is bringing the world closerin terms of business prospects. An exampleof this growing global industry is seen in thewide range of everyday products, manufac-turing, and services available to us fromother regions and countries of the world.

The highly criticized and controversialAmerican War on Drugs has led to manychanges in our industry. The United Stateshas literally killed off the mainstream glasspipe industry by seizing and charging manyAmerican glass artists marketing or sellingsuch paraphernalia. (For more specific infor-mation and details research “OperationHeadhunter” or “Operation Pipe Dreams”)

Because of the influential nature of thesebackward laws, many American glass artistshave shifted to the glass sex toy industry,leaving the demand to be supplied by a for-eign producer.

This is detrimental to our national rev-enue, as outsourcing and purchasing goodsfrom foreign countries takes money fromlocal producers and adds it to other countriesGNP (gross national product).

The current outsourcing trend is a searchto find a cheaper source for your product,which may come from cheaper labor, cheap-er or lower quality materials, resulting in alower quality product in the end. Two coun-tries known to produce a wide range ofcheaply produced knock-off products, goodsand services at lower costs are China andIndia.

Although this may seem great for business,as lower costs generally amount to higherprofits, there are also serious drawbacks.Porsche and Civic are both cars made fromsimilar materials, but there is an obviousquality difference. They will both get youfrom point A to point B and are functional,but both are obviously in different classes ofquality. Take the time to carefully examinethe glass at a local shop, you may discover

that a lot of import glass is made with thin-ner walls, which translates into less raw glassweight, and therefore lower manufacturingcosts. Also, thinner glass may be easier tobreak, and the shapes are not as perfect,refined (oblong) or aesthetic (comfort, style,AND function).

Enter Wong Bong Glass Werx / BubbleBros Glass. We are a fresh, new Canadiancompany out of Ontario, Canada, looking tomake our mark on the industry with highquality glass art. We produce productionstock in quantity for retailers, and also caterto the custom design needs of the true con-noisseur who wants a little more than whatis available to other people. We are here topromote safe, high quality Pyrex (borosili-cate) glass art, and believe the quality andworkmanship of our products will speak foritself.

Our plan is to build a company with a rep-utation for producing quality products thatbecomes the North American standard in theglass industry.

Please enter the contest to win a free pipeand visit our website for more information.

the Silicon Valley. I know lots of business-men like you describe. Entrepreneurs aremonomaniacal. They have to be, the odds areagainst you if you’re not. Capitalism, it’s notpretty, but it works. As far as the wine modelgoes, you might look at the American cornindustry model as well. There, individualcorn farmers work long brutal hours for gen-erally little profit, while the big aggregatorsdo well and influence policy. Be careful whatyou wish for, and ask yourself, are you reallysure you want this?

CH: Is there any question in your mindwho will control this emerging industry?

Quentin: I know there are people in thebusiness now who think things won’tchange. With all respect to the activists, theyaren’t reading enough history. The fact is,capitalism is going to come in there, and theyare better off dealing with it rather than pre-tending that it is not true. They have achance now to be in a position at the table,steering policy and the shape of the industry— after all , they have deep knowledge inagriculture and medicine, thousands ofpotential clients, and a lot of goodwill. If theyare there, and welcoming of change, they cando well. If the government and the new

entrants have to work around them, they’regoing to say, “these guys are all high, and tohell with them.”

CH: You had some exposure to “compas-sion clubs”. Where do you see this part of theindustry going?

Quentin: The Vancouver compassion cluband say a band of other compassion clubs,should walk right up to these guys (govern-ment) and say, we are the UnderwriterLaboratories, The Good House Keeping Seal ofApproval on which companies should be sup-plying medical marijuana. We have 10,000customers at hand and the greatest depth ofexperience you have ever seen, “let’s do somedeals!” But they probably won’t do that,which I believe is foolish, because they aregoing to be irrelevant if they don’t.The compassion clubs are in a position to beplayers right now, but if they just bitch andwhine that a lot of capitalists have showedup, they will be outflanked and that would bea great shame for all concerned.

Think of it as a problem in natural history,you adapt to changes in your environment,or you become a fossil. Nature doesn’t cutyou a lot of deals where change is concerned.

CH: Some of us have been pushing to haveHealth Canada consider small contracts,spread around the country.

Quentin: You know the thing that you cando there that would be smart is what yourpartner Barb is doing with the regional gov-ernments: hook them in as, nobody can gettoo big, spread your risk, no big drug runnercan get involved, this way it’s a local busi-ness. It becomes a cottage industry spreadthroughout Canada. Presumably HealthCanada has small regional offices all over theplace, why couldn’t they be licensing agents.

Again it all comes down to a matter ofpower and who makes the decisions. WhereI am going with all this is predicated on theidea of engaging. If you are going to sit backand click your tongue and complain that it’snot the Woodstock Nation, don’t even both-er, you’re just doomed. Positively, I can seeall kinds of ways that the present systemcould be happily morphed into some kind ofcapitalist framework that would be morepowerful and give the current players in thesystem some greater life there. In the end,you know, not acting guarantees that some-one else will be in charge.


The term vaporizer has been used for anydevice that can achieve vaporization pointprior to combustion. Without temperaturecontrol, a vaporizer is just one step awayfrom combustion.

Recently, herbs met technology and truevaporization became a reality. From the earlydays of vaporizers that just burned every-thing, to vaporizers of the 1970s that disap-peared, and the glass jar vaporizer of the1990s, the millennium brought us hot air

temperature controlled herbal vaporization. In the early 1900s, smoking mainstream

herbs, like tobacco and cannabis, caught onand people started thinking about the con-cept of inhaling herbs again. It wasn’t untilthe second half of the 20th century that peo-ple truly started to understand the healthhazards of smoking. When the first reportsof the hazards of smoking came out, thesmoking industry denied everything. Ratherthan spend money on creating a safer wayto inhale tobacco; they continued to denythe health problems associated with smok-ing. Without anyone looking for an alterna-tive to smoking, vaporization wasn’t even aconsideration.

In the 1970s, a few herbal vaporizers fromsmall companies hit the market, includingthe well known Tilt Vaporizer. In the late1970s and early 1980s, herbal vaporizers gotpushed underground by a drug war and pas-sage of anti-paraphernalia laws. Withouteven considering all the benefits of cannabisand the hundreds of medicinal herbs thatcould be vaporized with proper temperaturecontrol, vaporizers once again disappearedfrom public view.

In the mid 1990s, affordable glass-domedvaporizers hit the market and people start-ed to think about vaporization again.

These primitive devices lacked tempera-ture controls and involved contact with ametal, soldering iron. This form of vapor-ization became popular, but the unitsweren’t very efficient. Not only were theycapable of reaching combustion tempera-tures, but they would never be a safechoice for patients who needed to ensurethey weren’t inhaling smoke.

At the turn of the millennium, a few com-panies released hot air temperature con-trolled herbal vaporizers and the industrychanged forever. Temperature controlopened the door to use with hundreds ofreadily available legal herbs, allowing vapor-izers mainstream acceptance. Not only couldrecreational users vaporize herbs instead ofsmoking, but vaporizers now had an undis-puted legitimate medical use.

Smoking will never disappear, but those ofus in the vaporization industry realize howobsolete it really is. Vaporizers have come along way and they will just keep getting bet-ter. It’s just a matter of time before peopleembrace vaporization as the only real way toinhale herbs. The future of herbs is here andthings are just going to get better from here.

Damon, Vaporizers.ca


T H E E V O L U T I O N O F H E R B A L VA P O R I Z E R S

When I decided to make the move intoentrepreneurship over a year ago, my mis-sion was and has remained simple: to serveboth private and public interests in thecannabis culture by creating a unique, usefuland profitable product or service that in itselfhelps bring an end to prohibition. Oneaspect of this that I feel we can all have animmediate impact upon is the everydaynormalization of what we do and who weare as cannabis consumers. CannaGuide isthe essence of this form of individualactivism. We support those businesses andservices that support our lifestyle.CannaGuide BC is North America’s firstfree, annually published, comprehensivedirectory of both cannabis-focused busi-nesses, services, events (non-profit or oth-erwise) and those organizations which may

not have a direct cannabis connection, butwant to reach out and support the cannabisconsumer nonetheless.

One of the most basic institutions thatdraws people together, as banal as it mayseem, is a directory. Whether it’s the YellowPages that define your area by its businessesand services, a Gay Guide that targets thehomosexual community or a Jewish orChinese phone book, a directory is a physicalrepresentation of the breadth and diversity of one’s culture. Not only will both the canna-resident and canna-tourist alike have a professional, portable and easy-to-readresource of every category of listing requiredto fully utilize this amazing plant in daily life,but they and society as a whole, will have avisual cue as to how strong and secure

Canada’s cannabis culture truly is, for us tohave a directory of our own. It is my beliefthat, if we are to be accepted by the “straight”business community, cannabusinesspeopleneed to run their organization like any otherbusiness and need to truly believe that whatthey are doing is no less deserving of successthan every other legitimate enterprise. Thisis a concept that many struggle with, espe-cially those who are used to being forced tocircumvent regulation and authority. I’vecompleted and have been implementing mybusiness plan with the help of a loan fromCommunity Futures DevelopmentCorporation (a non-profit business develop-ment organization) and with a weekly grantfrom Human Resources DevelopmentCanada (the Federal Gov.) as part of theYouth Entrepreneurship program. I was


Lisa Kirkman

C A N N A G U I D E

accepted based on the merits of my businessplan. Yes, they know exactly what my businessis, too!

Cannabusiness should strive to reach theirtarget market without having to compromiseintegrity. Right now, although seed dealers,nutrient companies, paraphernalia makers, etc.all have the means to advertise their particularproduct or service, prohibition prevents main-stream advertising from allowing them to fullyexpress what their product or service really isor does. Most phone books don’t even have aHemp Store section, so they spend hundreds ofdollars to list under Clothing or Books.CannaGuide frees the advertiser to explain tothe consumer honestly the who, what, when,where, why and how of their product, serviceor event. Conversely, the non-cannabis focusedorganization that wants to target the cannabisconsuming market has never before had aneffective medium to do it until CannaGuide.Restaurants, electricians, real estate agents,any business or service that the rest of the soci-ety requires, canna-people require as well. Theastute entrepreneur who markets their organi-zation in CannaGuide knows that their ad is astatement and their newfound market-base isextremely loyal to those who make such astatement. Look for CannaGuide BC 2004-2005 on shelves Cannabis Day (July 1st) 2004!


The British Columbia CivilLiberties Association Presents A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Law Reform:BEYOND PROHIBITION Legal Cannabisin Canada

It is far past time that cannabis beremoved from the Criminal Code and thata workable system of regulation replaceCanada's current social policy of prohibi-tion. Numerous studies and governmentcommissions have concluded that prohibi-tion is a failed social policy that does moreharm than good. This conference, howev-er, will not focus on the harms of prohibi-tion. Instead, participants from a widevariety of fields will demonstrate the ram-ifications of a legal cannabis environment.Discussion Topics Include* Models for a Regulatory Environment -Recreational and Medical* Law Enforcement and Judicial ResourceAllocation* Economic Impacts of Legalized

Marijuana* Internal Treaty Ramifications* Public Health Perspectives* The State of Cannabis Research* Safe, Legal Cannabis CultivationDate of Conference: Saturday, May 8, 2004

Location: The Wosk Centre for Dialogue,Vancouver BC. Keynote Speaker: TheHonourable Senator Pierre Claude Nolin

Tickets are available for $20 each. Ticketprice includes admission to the confer-ence, a copy of all written materials pre-sented at the conference and two coffeeservices. Lunch is not currently included,but will be provided budget permitting.Seating is limited and a maximum of twotickets per person may be purchased.

For tickets or more information contact:Kirk Tousaw, BCCLA Policy Director604.687.2919 [email protected] (email is thepreferred method of contact)

BEYOND PROHIBITIONL EGAL CANNAB I S IN CANADA

C A N N A G U I D E

The Economicsof Prohibition

C A N N A B I S H E A L T H J o u r n a l page 13

Choosing your organizational structure.In the early 80s some of us came to the

realization that a traditional top-heavymanagement style was strangling many ofthe non-profit organizations in which wehad spent so much time working. We want-ed to form an organization whose structurewould enhance its objectives, not under-mine and stand in the way of its success.Co-op seemed to be a possible step in themove towards efficiency while retaining thespirit of co-operation and involvement ofemployees.

Early experiments with co-ops had shownus that although the government wants toencourage co-ops and has a number ofincentives in place to encourage this form ofprogressive organization, very few funding

branches of government will do businesswith a co-op. It often comes down to a sub-jective decision by a government employee,who is seeking to decrease his own risk byhaving a clear point of responsibility in theorganization he is considering for support.Non profits and Co-ops have a place in pro-viding various human and community serv-ices, but when it comes to politically volatileand high risk issues like marijuana orcannabis, these volunteer-based organiza-tions offer the (often amateur) board mem-bers at the helm a scary burden of responsi-bility.

Faced with this seeming dilemma, wedecided to approach this from a differentangle. It was important to our success to har-ness the energy of our employees and thecommitment they have to the cannabis causeand, at the same time, to offer them mean-ingful involvement in the day-to-day deci-sions of the company. It was essential that wehave a flat authority structure; make deci-sions by consensus, and have a low level of“them and us” mentality.

In effect, we wanted to be a co-op but wereforced by the realities of the market to be afor-profit corporation. Cannabis Research

Institute was registered in 1999. The initialprivate placement, bylaws and constitutionare traditional, with the exception of theaddition of certain ethical commitments stat-ed directly in CRI’s constitution. Nothingwas stopping us from operating internallyany way we wished, and we continued tobehave internally as a co-op.

We began to see that some doors wereclosed to CRI, the corporation, in the areas of

T H E C A N N A B I S R E S E A R C H I N S T I T U T E

Russel Barth and Christine Lowe show ustheir vision of the Economics of Prohibition


Construction in Myrtle Edwards Park hasbeen completed and the park has returned toa landscape more beautiful than ever before!This will surely make for the most picture-perfect Hempfest in history.

As the international movement to defendthe rights of cannabis enthusiasts continuesto grow and flourish, Seattle Hempfestproves to be the foremost cannabis policyreform event in the world. Multi-nationalefforts to thwart the cannabis community areno match for the solidarity that is now glob-ally shared by those who seek an end to the

prohibition of theworld’s friendliestplant. After evalu-ating final atten-dance estimatesfrom a variety of sources, we feel confidentthat around 185,000 peaceful people cameout to support Hempfest in 2003. Folks fromall walks of life contributed to anothertremendously successful year of peace, pride,politics and passion. Attendees enjoyed sixstages of the finest speakers on the subjectand world class musical support right onSeattle’s beautiful waterfront. 2003 was agreat year to hear terrific speakers railagainst the Drug War complimented by thebackdrop of Elliott Bay and Mount Rainieron a warm and sunny Seattle weekend. Asthe ships rolled by and the throngs of peopleflocked to the phattie of fests it was clear thatCannabis users and supporters are amongthe most peaceful and responsible peopleanywhere.Our favorite hemp activist, WoodyHarrelson, made a repeat appearance andbrought the crowd to their feet, roaring with

appreciation. Internationally recognizedtravel writer and TV host, Rick Steves,reminded folks that America imprisons onequarter of all those incarcerated on the plan-et, bringing home the need for everydaypotsmokers to come forward and declarethemselves good and decent Americans.Fresh from a nationally acclaimed medicalmarijuana case, cultivation guru EdRosenthal spoke passionately about the fed-eral government’s cruel war against the sickand dying. He called for a moratorium on thegovernment’s war on medical marijuana, andfor mechanisms to guarantee safe access toall who have a legitimate need. Jack Herer,the Hemperor himself, was articulate as ever,proving that he has amazingly resilient heal-ing abilities, something he shares in commonwith his favorite species of plant life.

Vote Freedom!Seattle Hempfest 2004 Saturday and

Sunday August 21 & 22 - 10AM to 8PMMyrtle Edwards Park, Pier 70 Free!

S E A T T L E H E M P F E S T 2 0 0 4

support and services to medicinal marijuanausers. In 2001, with this in mind, the princi-pals of CRI formed the Cannabis HealthFoundation. The Foundation made the sup-port of patients and the use of volunteers eas-ier to manage within this organizational mar-riage. We took the time to ensure that wewere beyond reproach when it came to thefinances and the relationship of the corpora-tion CRI to the Foundation CHF. Internallythe “accountant” role and rules are welldefined. We seek legal advice on any con-tentious issue and conduct an annual exter-nal audit.

In 2002 the Foundation began to publishthe Cannabis Health Journal. The journalfilled a need for a hard copy magazine thatstayed away from sex and other drugs. Wewanted a magazine that reached doctors andteachers and students and would be accept-able in a medical clinic or school library. We

wanted general appeal but were targeting the50 to 60 year old early retirees, the boomers.The journal, now well into the second year ofoperation, has successfully developed anadvertising base and distribution networkthat reaches into 15 coun-tries. The majority of com-merce takes place in Canadaand the US West coast.

CRI, in co-operation witha local company in GrandForks, BC, is in the finaldevelopment stage of a newuser-friendly grow box.Within the next year, thisstate-of-the-art option forgrowing your own medici-nal cannabis will be avail-able on lease.

This summer both CRIand CHF will be moving to

new accommodations. The new site will be arenovated heritage barn that we will be mak-ing over to resemble a turn of the centurymining town. The location is close to thehighway and we will encourage visitors to

drop in to be educated andentertained.

To what do we owe ourmodest success? We have adeeply committed group ofemployees and volunteers.Everyone in our organizationis in the loop, and we all sharea 10-year future vision. Youcould say we are successfullyoperating a co-op within a cor-poration that is married to anonprofit foundation.

CHJCannabis Health JournalAnniversary Issue

T H E C A N N A B I S R E S E A R C H I N S T I T U T E


by Brian Johnson

Transglobal Hemp Products Corporation isa privately owned, BC registered, limited lia-bility company that was incorporated on Feb.8, 1994. Its corporate mandate is to commer-cialize Industrial Hemp on Vancouver Islandfrom seed to the finished value-added con-sumer products, hemp foods, hemp ethanol,hemp textiles, hemp pulp, hemp paper, hempbuilding materials, hemp beverages andhemp cosmetics/pharmaceuticals under fed-eral licenses from Health Canada.

We grew hemp in 1997, 1998, 1999 & 2000and demonstrated to the public that hempgrows well on Vancouver Island but that aseries of value-added processing mills wasvital as a market for farm-gate hemp.

Thus a hemp farmer’s co-op called PacificIslands Hemp Farmers’ Co-operativeAssociation was incorporated & our retailfranchise was produced but we still need millsto buy the harvested hemp from the farmers’co-op. So we formed a Venture CapitalCorporation(VCC) with 30% tax credits forBC individual & corporate taxpayers that isalso RRSP eligible, together providing as much

as 74% tax deferment percalendar year.

After 3 years of grieffrom a rogue bureaucrat,2004 sees our second VCC& an end to challengingtimes. Brian Taylor & Iwere among various pio-neering hemp advocateswho created the hemp lobby non-profit soci-ety known as “British Columbia IndustrialHemp Growers Association” and this Non-Government Organization (NGO)will be re-invigorated by Brian & I soon.

October 2002 was the date that we signed aMemorandum of Understanding with Laos &received a decree to build a mill in Laos alongwith a farmer’s co-op & retail franchise totransfer our model of complete vertical inte-gration to SE Asia.

But George Bush’s axis of evil directlyaffected us because the CanadianInternational Development Agency (CIDA)turned down feasibility funding because of“geopolitical pressures” meaning potentialwar in North Korea. So now Cuba &

Hungary are our favorite target markets fornew mills with co-op & franchise.

My background is land development, ven-ture capital & franchising. I lived in Calgaryand raised equity for oil funds & oil rigs,geologists talked about conventional oil sup-plies (not including tarsands) running outsoon. Demand for oil is increasing beyondsupply, causing high prices that slow eco-nomic growth.

The Carbohydrate Economy (hemp & bio-mass) is gradually replacing the HydrocarbonEconomy (oil) market demands for the com-modities of life. Hemp is known in the car-bohydrate economy as the most advanta-geous raw material on earth.

So even without KYOTO’s clout, hemp isin demand more & more each year to fuel the

T R A N S G L O B A L H E M PP R O D U C T S C O R P O R A T I O N

emerging carbohydrate future economy.Locally here on Vancouver Island, we own

zoned lands to build mills to provide clean,green jobs in coastal communities ravaged bythe decline of fishing & logging.

Financing turn-key mills using tax advan-tages, franchise financing & franchise law isour biggest goal here in BC. Also important isbuilding turn-key mills on time & on budgetfor any interested investors/farmers here inCanada or offshore utilizing our 187 share-holders’ professions & skills which includesland developers, engineers, architects, elec-

tricians, plumbers, cement mills, buildingmaterial suppliers, etc.

The future affords an opportunity for us tohelp many third world countries use theirland to grow hemp & produce their com-modities of life locally without importingplastics & other non-biodegradables fromUSA & other world polluters.

In summary, so many countries need hempproducts as an import replacement that theCarbohydrate Economy is well on its way inEurope, but not yet in North America.

Canada needs an event like Europe’s high-ly successful “Cannatrade”, a twice per yearevent that combines cannabis hemp andcannabis marijuana. My greatest wish is thathere in Canada, we all work together as oneto build mills, healthy communities withgreen jobs & export those technologies turnkey all around the world so that everybodywins & nobody loses.

Live long and prosper.Contact Brian Johnson at [email protected] Box 8748, Victoria, B.C. V8W 3S3

T R A N S G L O B A L H E M P P R O D U C T S C O R P O R A T I O N

Hemp Magick creators Kerwin McLeister andLoretta Clark swear their masques will makeyour hair and skin feel as soft as an angel’s ass.Their products are tested on Seers only!

Idealism in the new millenium with thesame old gross values running the world—open a Hemp store at the height of SARS inToronto on a strip that a customer calls ‘thedead zone’, and watch your money run awayfaster than you can catch your breath, all thewhile asking yourself: ‘Was I crazy to do this?’Last year at this time I opened a store called,The Hemp Factory. Has it been worth it? Yes!!

The Hemp Factory—249 Gerrard St. East inToronto, is more than a retail Hemp experi-ence; it is political, spiritual, and most impor-tant, FUN. There have been moments when Ihave been precariously close to closing up, butHemp is my and your date with destiny. Hempis here to save the humans—not that wedeserve it. At The Hemp Factory, we have cre-ated new products and there’s nothing likebringing great new products into the world,especially when they are wonderfullyreviewed in Now magazine and Fab magazine.Especially when you know they are outstand-ing and that maybe you are part of this newworld potential that could end the petro-chem-ical slaughter we’ve all been bamboozled by.

Our pride and joy creations at The HempFactory began with Hemp Magick Masquesand Cannabis Clean soap. HEMP MAGICKMASQUE is more than a treatment for theskin, it’s a religious experience, give praise tothe return of Hemp. So, try a dab on yourwrist, see how it feels, then apply a generousamount to your face (and, your hair, too!).Leave on for thirty minutes and remove withwarm water. Your skin will love you for it!Our masques contain Hemp oil, Hempola seedcake, seaweed powder, essential oils, mineralmud and an array of other gifts from the earth.Our two debut versions of HEMP MAGICKMASQUE (ultimately, we will have five) areHEMP MAGICK MASQUE: Ocean andHEMP MAGICK MASQUE: Air. Ocean isintensely rejuvenating (use twice a week foroptimum effect) while Air is lighter, perfectfor drier skin types and can be used as fre-

quently as one wishes. And, it makes a greatexfoliant. Both should be kept refrigerated.

Why ‘Cannabis Clean?’ Well, if you haven’tbeen converted to all natural soaps/shampoosby now, this is as good a time as any. Real, allnatural soaps/shampoos contain NO artificialfragrances or chemicals, be sure you’re notbeing fooled. You’d be surprised. However,once you go all natural, there’s no turningback, your skin and hair have been begging forit for years. You’ll notice the difference rightaway. We at The Hemp Factory preach thisand our particular bent is Hemp because of itsamazing properties and tremendous potentialto change the world, yes, change the world.Hemp and cannabis are very similar, yet verydifferent. We put both in our soap/shampoo tomake the point of connection. You see,cannabis was criminalized to kill the Hempindustry before it could really show its mirac-ulous benefits. Hemp makes a far superiorpaper to lumber, and will not spew poisonouseffluence into our river systems, the lifebloodof our planet. Hemp takes three months togrow, not several years. Vote for Hemp andend the environmental tyranny that wasexacted out of greed, not concern for theeffects of pot. We, and our planet, need it. Formore information, and to discover our amaz-ing Hemp Magick Masques, go to www.the-hempfactory.com We are looking for creativepartners who believe in fairness, freedom, andwho want to live to see the finale of Capitalistterrorism. Call us, we’re cool. (416) 923-(HEMP) 4367.


SURVIV ING SARS AND THE F IRST HELL ISH YEAR OF BUS INESS

The review and modification of the MMAR isand ongoing process and will continue through-out the summer. The summary below reflectsthe development of the new rules at the time ofpublication.

by Brian Taylor/ editor in chief, CannabisHealth Journal

It was a first, and indeed a minor miracle,to have the Canadian Cannabis Coalition rep-resenting 7000 unlicensed medical cannabisusers invited to sit at the same table with lawenforcement, medical specialists and othergovernment officials. The meeting was theHealth Canada Consultation withStakeholders held on February 18th inOttawa. I had been briefed in advance thatHealth Canada was only going through thissham to satisfy the courts and were obliviousto the real pain and suffering of patients.What I found was a group of experienced andhard working middle managers, trying theirbest to balance the impossible demands ofpolitically ascribed interest groups with mar-ijuana positions that were often planetsapart.

The purpose of the one day session was toannounce and receive feedback on proposedchanges to the medical access regulations.

Summary of the proposed new regulations:

Category 1 requires the signature of onegeneral practitioner.

Any symptom associated with compassion-ate end-of-life care. It will also include severesymptoms associated with cancer,HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, spinal cordinjury and disease, epilepsy, and severearthritis. These symptoms include, nausea,cachexia, anorexia, weight loss, persistentmuscle spasms, seizures, neuropathic painand severe pain.

Category 1 patients have no limit on the num-ber of times they can qualify for a renewal

Writers note: A number of conditions:fibromyalgia, glaucoma, hepatitis C and avariety of other conditions that manifest insevere symptoms are not included. AlthoughMMAR w3ill not be adjudicating the applica-tions that clearly fall within category 1, itseems inevitable that challenges, reviews andthe inclusion of other conditions in this catego-ry will be an ongoing process.

Category 2 will require the signature of aspecialist for conditions and symptoms notcovered in Category 1.

Note: This is the previous Category 3 andalthough the signature of a specialist isrequired, the changes that remove the liabilityfrom the physician also apply to the specialistin category 2

The patient declaration has been changedin a way that places the responsibility on thepatient to make his or her own choice regard-ing risk and benefit. Wording will be clearand less open to interpretation. Forms will beshorter. The medical declaration will berevised. Physicians will no longer ‘recom-mend’ marijuana, but will state that they areaware of, or “attest” to the amount of mari-juana the patient intends to consume. Theywill no longer be required to provide infor-mation on each and every treatment theyhave tried, but will now sign a statement thatother treatments have been tried or consid-ered and have not been deemed appropriateor effective.

The renewal process will be simplified.Instead of completing the whole applica-tion, the applicant and physician will beable to indicate that all informationremains the same.

Renewals will be required every year andthe physician is expected to examine thepatient and sign the abbreviated renewalforms.

Disclosure to police will be implied uponsignature of the application. Please note thatHealth Canada’s database will not be madeavailable to the police. Police will only be ableto call Health Canada to verify an


C A N A D I A N M E D I C A L M A R I J U A N A R U L E S F O R A C C E S S


exemptee’s/authorized person’s card, tocheck on a suspicious physical address andconfirm that they are indeed legally exempt-ed. No medical information will be disclosed.There will be a statement to this effect on thenew forms, and a policy document to clarifythis process.

The new MMAR will be published in theCanada Gazette in the spring, and there willbe another 30-day period for comments.Health Canada does plan onphasing out issuing licensesto produce marijuana. Theplan is to do this around2007, once Health Canada isable to manage the supplyissue.

Part of the new MMARplan is to distribute throughpharmacies, and a pilot project will be under-taken in BC to distribute through a selectnumber of pharmacy outlets.

For the full MMAR document, please visit:http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecssesc/ocma/legis-lation.htm.

As the above regulations come into effect,picture not the current few hundred growlicenses, but thousands and thousands ofpatients and production licenses.

I sympathize with the challenges this poses

for law enforcement; in my opinion wealready have too many patients who aregrowing under duress.

Before the planned cessation of licensing in2007, the next step towards legalization couldpermit the growing of a small quantity ofplants at home, but the thought of having10,000 individual licensed patients is notattractive to me as a taxpayer or a cannabisactivist. The solution appears to be in provid-

ing patients with highquality, safe cannabisat affordable prices.Rather than awardone more large con-tract for millions, as isthe current plan byHealth Canada, splitthe contract andaward licenses to

small companies throughout Canada. Thesesmall producer/suppliers would be required toform a self regulatory body and operate the“product pool”. Research and testing would bea shared cost and industry self monitoringwould be done in co-operation with theRCMP.

The plan will save money for the govern-ment and patients. Not placing all your eggsin one basket will reduce the risk of product,person or systems failure. Patients withappropriate ID could shop the product poolvia the net or purchase at the “farm gate”.Operating the “Pool” as a free market wouldensure the licensed growers continue to meetthe demands of consumers.

Health Canada would have the same level ofdirect control as they now exercise with onecontract or the planned two large contracts.

Large single contracts will stir up angerfrom the east and west. The farm gate willbuild trust and ensure the success of thenew regulations.

As we progressed through the day and thewell structured review of the proposed reg-ulations, the facilitators allowed a mix ofsmall table and larger group discussion.Each of the tables included a representativefrom law enforcement, patients, advocacygroups and Health Canada. As each issue atour table was discussed, the inevitablequestion was asked, “How will this impacton patient access ?”

Our contingency was well represented byHilary Black, Phillip Lucas, Boris St.Maurice, Eric Nash and myself. We, theCCC representatives, were asking for morethan they, the Health Canada employeescould deliver, but they were listening andthey respected us enough to have invited usto participate. The proposed changes arenot everything we wanted, and some of thecompromises are still based on fear andmisinformation. These changes are a bigimprovement that will make cannabisaccessible to many more Canadians. I urgemy fellow activists to educate patients, doc-tors and the community, support thesechanges and make them work.

As the meeting came to a close, I was can-didly informed for the second time that day,that there is still some trepidation thatmany activists are really out to fully legal-ize marijuana. I told her politely that I wasone of them and flashed her my best aliensmile.

These changes are abig improvement thatwill make cannabisaccessible to manymore Canadians.

C A N A D I A N M E D I C A L M A R I J U A N A R U L E S F O R A C C E S S

Bill C10 is a worst-case scenario ofMarijuana Prohibition. Canadians will regis-ter disapproval in upcoming Federal Election

Bill C10 is contrary to the desire ofCanadians to see the end to the prohibition ofmarijuana, says the Canadian CannabisCoalition (CCC), an umbrella organizationrepresenting medical, commercial and per-sonal aspects of cannabis, dedicated to facili-tating access to a safe supply of cannabisthrough research, education and advocacy.Instead of alleviating the harms of prohibi-tion, this Bill would cause a “net-wideningeffect”, ultimately punishing an increasednumber of Canadians. It would also lead toan entrenched illegal market. The SenateSpecial Committee on Illegal Drugs warnedthat despite the fact some may say thatdecriminalization is a step in the right direc-tion, “this approach is in fact the worst-casescenario, depriving the State of a regulatorytool needed in dealing with the entire pro-duction, distribution, and consumption net-work, and delivering a rather hypocriticalmessage at the same time.” The report alsostates “decriminalization of use is a weakvariation of prohibition, in the long runentailing more disadvantages thanadvantages.”

Bill C10, currently on its third reading in

parliament, would allow the provinces thatare signatories to the Contraventions Act toimplement fines for small amounts ofcannabis possession ($150-$400 for under 15grams of cannabis or 1 gram of resin) andcultivation ($500 for 3 plants or less).The CCC is concerned that the flat fine scalediscriminates against low-income Canadians,including those using cannabis medically butillegally due to the government’s unworkablemedical marijuana regulations. In theevent that the Bill is enacted into law, theCCC believes many Canadians will registertheir disapproval by fighting fines.

In provinces that are not signatories to theContraventions Act, including BritishColumbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, theseoffences would remain punishable under theCriminal Code through fines and summaryconvictions. Under both schemes, the possi-bility of imprisonment and a record remainintact. MP Libby Davies’ proposal for a spe-cial provision that would guarantee noimprisonment on default of fines was notaccepted. The Bill also provides foreign gov-ernments access to these records by courtorder.

While this Bill would be an improvementfor some Canadians who would otherwiseface a criminal record and imprisonment

under the current scheme, possession andcultivation of small amounts of cannabismost often results in confiscation only. As aresult, this Bill would pull many moreCanadians into contact the justice systemsince police officers may become morevigilant in enforcing the law due to the perceived ease of ticketing compared to arrest.Bill C10’s proposal to double the punishmentto 14 years maximum for cultivators of over50 plants would make the penalty higherthan that for rape or manslaughter and risksfilling Canadian jails with non-violent drugoffenders. The increased risk and cost associ-ated with production would increase blackmarket profits, violence and corruption.

Debate in the House of Commons over BillC10 demonstrates inexcusable misinforma-tion on the part of many Liberal and AllianceMP’s. Mandatory minimums and forcedtreatment for repeat offenses are part andparcel of their Reefer Madness vision of anew cannabis drug strategy. Former JusticeMinister, Martin Cauchon, sought US inputinto the Bill before it had even been read inCanadian Parliament. If the Bill passes itsthird reading it will go to the Senate for asober second look. In such a case, the CCCurges the Senate to amend Bill C10 to reflectthe unanimous conclusions of its Special


R E A C T I O N T O C A N A D A ’ S N E W M A R I J U A N A L AW S .

COMINGSOON


Committee to fully legalize and regulate cannabis. Whether the Billpasses or not before the upcoming federal election, the CCCbelieves Canada’s 3 to 5 million cannabis consumers will supportpolitical parties and candidates that are more tolerant of theirchoices and respectful of their rights.For more information, please contact these members of the CCC: B.C: Rielle Capler 604-875-0214Philippe Lucas 250-884-9821David Malmo-Levine 604-842-7790Quebec: Boris St. Maurice 888-528-1768 cell-514-808-8682Ontario: Alison Myrden 905- 681-8287Neev @ CALM 416-367-3459For further information about The Canadian Cannabis Coalition: http://www.cannabiscoalition.ca

The Economicsof Prohibition

Jefferson and Marx weren’t wrong, theywere from a different time, and it’s time forus to evolve and find new ways of servingthe public and private interests of society.

Lisa Kirkman

As activists, we have for the most partfailed dismally in bringing to public attentionthis awful democratic aberration which is the

interjection of police views into the democratic debate. Free peopledo not debate with armed men in a democratic society. Never.Patrick Roberts

Q U O T A B L E Q U O T E S

R E A C T I O N T O C A N A D A ’ SN E W M A R I J U A N A L AW S .

Russel Barth and Christine Lowe show ustheir vision of the Economics of Prohibition


Darren McCrae, 35, suffers fromRheumatoid Arthritis, a crippling autoim-mune disease of the joints. He has not hadto use the Prednisone, Methotrexate orHydrocodone, all of which had severe sideeffects, since he has gotten a medicinalmarijuana prescription. Darren finds itmorally unacceptable that the sick anddying are forced intothe street to scroungefor their medicine. Forthis reason, he found-ed SpoCannabis, anorganization dedicat-ed to providing safeaccess to authorizedpatients. The organi-zation also helpspatients understandtheir rights and pro-vides referrals toresponsible caregivers.Their mission is tohelp the sick and suf-fering of Spokane.

One of the peopleDarren has encoun-tered is CliffChadwell, a proud,wheelchair boundViet Nam veteran witha prescription. This is Cliff’s story:

Cliff was surprised to see the local policepull into his driveway. They asked if hewas growing marijuana and he said yes, hehad six plants. He neglected to tell themthat he had a prescription from theVeteran’s Affairs doctor, but the officerswere polite and took his plants away com-municating that the didn’t see any bigproblem, (“Don’t worry about it.”) andwould be in touch.

Eighteen months later, he receivednotice that he was being charged with thefelony offence of “manufacturing”. Cliff

was in shock andhired a lawyer for$2,500 he couldnot afford and dis-covered that theprescription thathe had obtained 6months before thebust was on a pre-scription form, notthe required

authorization form. Cliff was offered anopportunity to “plead down” to 40 gramsand a fine. The problem with this solu-tion is, even though he would avoid jailtime, Cliff would still be pleading guilty toa felony. As a felon in America he wouldbecome a second-class citizen. He wouldlose his right to vote and become unableto continue his volunteer work withMeals-on-Wheels. After all, what elderlyperson would trust a convicted felon? Hewould be forced to buy all his cannabis onthe black market. He feared the stigma of“felon” more than he feared jail. Cliffrefused to bargain and fights on for jus-tice in a country he once risked his life todefend.

S P O C A N N A B I S

Cliff Chadwell

Darren McCrae

THE THIRD NATIONAL CLINICAL CONFERENCE ON CANNABIS THERAPUTICS

Does cannabis have therapeutic value?The issue of cannabis/marijuana as a valid

alternative medicine in healthcare continuesto be a highly controversial social issue in theUnited States. The dissonance between itsidentification as an illicit drug and studiesthat validate its benefits for selected patientscreates a confusing picture for both health-care providers and patients. In 1999 theInstitute of Medicine completed its study,Marijuana as Medicine: Assessing theScience Base, per the request of GeneralBarry McCaffrey, the Director of the Officeof National Drug Control Policy at that time.The experts concluded that cannabis doeshave therapeutic value, is not highly addic-tive, and is not a gateway drug. They recom-mended that it should be immediately avail-able for therapeutic use for cancer and AIDSpatients in its current smokable form andthat research should be conducted on alter-native delivery methods. They also notedthat due to its relative safety, physiciansshould be able to conduct studies on theirpatients whom they believe could be helpedby the use of cannabis.

Patients Out of Time is a Virginia basednational non-profit organization dedicated toeducating the public and health care profes-sionals about the therapeutic use of cannabisand has co-sponsored two previous national

clinical conferences on this topic in 2000 and2002. The discovery of endogenous cannabi-noids and receptor sites in the human bodyresulted in a significant increase in theresearch related to the use of cannabinoids inpatient care.

Some of the results of this worldwideresearch in the field of cannabis therapeuticswill be presented at The Third NationalClinical Conference on CannabisTherapeutics to be held May 20-22, 2004 inCharlottesville, VA, USA. This conference isjointly sponsored by the University ofVirginia School of Medicine and Patients Outof Time. The conference will be co-presentedby the Virginia Nurses Association, theUniversity of Virginia School of Nursing, theUniversity of Virginia School of Medicineand the University of Virginia School of Law.The conference theme is Use Throughout theLife Span and the audience will learn aboutthe role of cannabis and cannabinoids frombirth, through childhood, adolescence, adultlife and all the way to the end of life.

Dr. Raphael Mechoulam from HebrewUniversity, Jerusalem will present hisresearch on dexanabinol, a synthetic, non-psychoactive cannabinoid for use in treatingtraumatic brain injuries; University of Iowa’sNursing College Dean Melanie Dreher RN,PhD, will present research on its use during

pregnancy; Dr. Billy Martin, Chair of theDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicity ofVirginia Commonwealth University will dis-cuss the risk of cannabis dependence; WillemScholten, PharmD, Head of the Office ofMedical Cannabis, Ministry of Health,Welfare and Sports in The Netherlands willexplain how his country has integratedcannabis into its national Formulary.

Dr. Mark Ware of McGill University willaddress his current clinical trials withpatients with pain in Canada while Dr.Donald Abrams, Professor of ClinicalMedicine and Chief of Hematology-Oncologyat San Francisco General Hospital will pres-ent his finding on cannabis and pain in ongo-ing US clinical trials.

Studies on alternative delivery methods ofcannabinoids are also included in the confer-ence. Assistant Professor Audra Stinchcomb,College of Pharmacy, University of Kentuckywill present her research on the developmentof a cannabis patch under a grant from theAmerican Cancer Society. Dr. Geoffrey Guy,Founder and Executive Chairman of GWPharmaceuticals, United Kingdom, will dis-cuss the development of Sativex®, an oralmucosal cannabis extract spray.

Arnold Trebach PhD, JD, ProfessorEmeritus, American University is the



Founder and Past President of The DrugPolicy Foundation; President of the TrebachInstitute; and Chair, Board of Advisors,International Prohibitionist League.Professor Trebach will discuss “The StrangeHistory of the War on Medicine”. RichardBonnie, JD, John S. Battle Professor of Lawat the University of Virginia’s School of Lawwill speak to “Medical Ethics and CannabisProhibition”. Professor Bonnie, co-author of“The Marijuana Conviction”, is a member ofthe Planning Committee and on the Board ofAdvisors of Patients Out of Time.

For the legal community the state of the artknowledge provided by the faculty shouldprovide both sides of the system ample sci-ence. Prosecutors will learn that currentVirginia and federal laws prohibiting usingcannabis as a medicine are based on knowl-edge that is decades old and overtaken byresearch that is replicated and in oppositionto the current prohibitionist policy. Defenseattorneys will come away from the forumwith a wealth of information that counters

the “no medical use” mantra of the federalgovernment and the ability to mount credibleand successful “medical necessity” defensesfor the ill charged with a crime for self-med-ication with cannabis.

This conference should be of special inter-est to primary care and family physicians.Cannabis is the most used illicit drug in theUS. Physicians must be able to provide accu-rate evidence-based information regardingthe use and effects ofcannabis to their patientswho use cannabis for med-ical or recreational purpos-es. The clinical researchpresented will also be ofinterest and relevance tophysicians working inpediatrics, oncology,HIV/AIDS, pain manage-ment, hospice care, psychi-atry, neurology, physicaland medical rehabilitation,and trauma. Please go to

www.medicalcannabis.com for furtherinformation on the conference agenda, fac-ulty, and registration. On behalf of allpatients out of time, please take advantageof the 2004 conference location to learnfrom world experts about this highly con-troversial but relatively safe and scientifical-ly promising therapeutic medicine.

MARIJUANA IN CANADA• Canadians will consume roughly 2,100

kilograms of marijuana today.• Number of marijuana users: 2.3 million• Annual marijuana consumption: 770,000

kilograms• Annual marijuana production: 2.6 mil-

lion kilograms• Amount of domestic production con-

sumed in Canada: 30 per cent• Number of grow operations (personal use

and commercial): 215,000• Number of people employed in marijua-

na growing: 500,000

Sources: 2002 Report of the Senate SpecialCommittee on Illegal Drugs; Canadian Centreon Substance Abuse; Marijuana Party ofCanada; Marc Emery, Vancouver

Approx. 7% of Canadians smoke mari-juana recreationally (over 2 million people)source 1: StatsCan source 2: ParliamentaryWebsite (Population of Canada in 2002: 31million x 7% = 2.2 million marijuana smok-ers)

According to a UN study of drug use, 147million consume marijuana worldwide.[source: Globe & Mail - 9/22/02]

The Canadian government spends morethan $500 million annually enforcing druglaws. (according to the most recent auditor-general’s report)

The committee’s deputy chair, LiberalSenator Colin Kenny, said making pot legalwill actually result in the decreased use ofmarijuana. “No one wants to see an increasein use of cannabis,” he said. “The attractive-ness of the substance is it’s illegal.”

The senators estimate it costs Canada upto $1.5-billion annually to prosecute drugcharges. Almost a third of those cases involvemarijuana charges. Source: KIM LUNMAN -Globe and Mail

How big a business is pot?According to figures presented in a recent

investigative series in the National Postnewspaper, the potential street value of mar-ijuana produced last year in British Columbiaalone is about $24 (US) billion, more thanthe total value of the province’s forest prod-uct exports to the U.S. and about two and ahalf times Canada’s total legal agriculturalexports south of the border. Peter Black -“Chronically Canadian”

Several pages of RCMP notes, compiledfrom May through December of last year,were obtained by the Canadian Press underthe Access to Information Act. The lateststatistics show police laid a record numberof drug-related charges in 2002, with 75 percent of the 93,000 incidents involving pot.

Source: Kitchener-Waterloo Record (CNON)Copyright: 2004 Kitchener-WaterlooRecord.

O F F T H E W I R E

THE THIRD NATIONAL CLINICAL CONFERENCE ON CANNABIS THERAPUTICS


Cannabis Cooking Tips:Cooking with cannabis, especially leaf, can

create some pungent odors, so choose a placeto cook where this won’t be a problem.

Roasting dried cannabis before preparationcan improve the taste.

When deciding whatto make, rememberthat snack foods orbeverages make thebest cannabis treats.Heavy foods, like pas-tas, are taxing on thedigestive system whichwill slow the onset ofthe effects and mayinhibit the amount ofTHC absorbed.

Make sure thecannabis or cannabisingredient is spreadevenly throughout thedish for a consistentdosage.

Remember themunchies? Somesources say they areeven more pronouncedwhen cannabis iseaten, so have somenon-cannabis snacks

on hand. Satisfy the muchie cravings with-out being tempted to overdo it on cannabistreats.

Cannabis butters, oils or foods shouldalways be marked to avoid accidental eating.Making larger batches of the cannabis treat

or the cannabis ingredi-ent (oil or butter) willhelp to achieve consistentdosages.

Use alcohol, milk, but-ter, or cooking oil toextract the active ingredi-ents from the cannabis.

Grind the driedcannabis to as fine a pow-der as possible. An oldstyle, hand crank, meatgrinder will work fine.

Dosage:The amount of

cannabis that you add tothe recipe varies fromthe potency of thecannabis to the weightand temperament of theconsumer, but a generalguideline rangesbetween one and twograms of leaf per dose orone quarter to one halfof a gram of hash per

dose for an average sized person who hashad experience with edibles.

Warning:If you have never eaten cannabis and or

you have never experienced the effects ofcannabis, you should eat only a quarter of adose at the most and wait about an hour forthe onset of the effects. An effect called “firstpass” has a way of increasing the effects ofcannabis by quite a bit, and your second timewill be much tamer.

Watch out for the munchies because eat-ing too many cannabis treats can result in avery unpleasant experience.

An excerpt from the “Set Setting &Dosage” article in Volume 1 Issue 1 ofCannabis Health: I cautioned him on startingout with a bite of the cookie first and wait-ing, but, thinking “it’s just a small cookie andit tastes so good” he proceeded to eat it all.During the first time one gets “high”, a feel-ing of vertigo, just as if you were going uphigher physically, can flood your senses. ForFrank this was not good. The feelings of ver-tigo reminded him of his time coming off ofalcohol, which increased his anxiety, startedhim hyperventilating, and shortly thereafterhe went to the hospital to get help.

Thanks to Trash to Stash for some of thetips. Rip Ready

C O O K I N G W I T H C A N N A B I S

page 98 from Trash to Stash courtesyof Quick Trading

Jim Shimek is in charge of the theft ofpower at BC Hydro. I phoned Jim to ask foran interview after being turned down flat bythe publicity department. Jim was more thaneager to talk about his job and within min-utes, I found myself locked in conversation.Jim was once a cop, but his attitude is; his jobis to catch power thieves, not enforce themarijuana laws.

He does not seem to have an anti-marijua-na attitude, but he has seen first-hand thedangers of the illegal operations. Walkinginto a grow room can be like walking into amine field; wires going everywhere, wetfloors, mold and chemicals, a deadly mix.

Once we have disconnected the power, themarijuana tactical squad moves in for anoth-er take down. Among the blue and the greyis a uniform that looks slightly different. Itbelongs to the BC Hydro Grow BusterDisconnect Team. The team moves in beforeanyone touches anything associated with thegrow setup.

Jim assures me that consumption records ofindividual customers of BC Hydro are notaccessible except by court “search warrant” orthrough the “Freedom of Information Act”.

With the Freedom of Information route, BCHydro has the discretion to release the name

of an individual customer if they feel thatcustomer may be stealing power. Signs ofpower theft would include a consumptionspike in the recent past. Spiking is one sign ofthe installation of a bypass and the setting upof an illegal theft of power.

“Consumption levels of our customers areall over the map. Transformer overload isanother reason that an installation wouldcome to our attention. Problems can arisewhen one house takes more power and over-loads a transformer shared by four or fivehouseholds.”

Jim ended our discussion by expressing hissupport for the medical use of marijuana andhis sincere hope that in future the identifica-tion of medical grow operations would besorted out before innocent medical userswere subjected to the trauma of a grow bust.

Editorial Note:

We contacted the Office of the Informationand Privacy Commissioner, which is inde-pendent from government and monitors, andenforces British Columbia’s Freedom ofInformation and Protection of Privacy Actand Personal Information Protection Act.The Information and Privacy Commissioneris David Loukidelis. His office said they hadno knowledge of this practice and expressed

some surprise. They referred us to theFederal Privacy Commission, who referred usto the Personal Privacy Commission, whoreferred us to the Federal RCMP, and back tothe RCMP and the provincial JusticeDepartment.

In our final contact with the RCMP legalservices, a representative of that departmentconfirmed that, indeed, the provincial FREE-DOM OF INFORMATION AND PROTEC-TION OF PRIVACY ACT, section 33n, wasbeing used to target a specific consumer thatthe RCMP had cause to suspect was operatinga marijuana grow op. The discretionary powerthat is exercised by BC Hydro in this situationis governed by a policy developed in 1994.

33 A public body must ensure that person-al information in its custody or under its con-trol is disclosed only

(n) to a public body or a law enforcementagency in Canada to assist in an investigation

(i) undertaken with a view to a lawenforcement proceeding, or

(ii) from which a law enforcement proceed-ing is likely to result,

Look for more information on this issue inthe July / August edition of CHJ

P O W E R T H E F T

Hydro One, the public corporation whichowns long-haul power transmission linesacross the province of Ontario, has exper-enced severe brownouts lately.

Rocked by scandals, many top executives atthe utility have resigned or been fired.Mismanagement at Hydro One, like any othergovernment institution, took on the usualforms: untendered contracts to some of for-mer Tory Premier Mike Harris’ top aides, per-sonal expenses for things such as the CEO’sluxury yacht, written off as business advertis-ing after a logo was stuck on the hull, and adisastrous experiment in California-style elec-tricity price deregulation.

The McGuinty government however, has aconvenient scapegoat: indoor cannabisgrowing. The recent Green Tide summit in

G R O W - O P H Y S T E R I A

2 6 C A N N A B I S H E A L T H J o u r n a l

by Tim Meehan: Born in Montreal, raisedin Toronto and the Maritimes, and enlight-ened in Vancouver, writer, videographer andcomputer specialist, Tim brings a unique,national perspective to Canadian cannabishealth issues. Guided and enlightened bythe groundbreaking work of Canadianscholars Marshall McLuhan and HaroldInnis, Meehan has positioned himself with-in the cannabis liberation movement as amedia theorist, public relations consultantand Internet evangelist.


Respect, makes the world go ‘round. Respect,don’t put others down.... These lyrics start outthe smooth sounding reggae beat that opensthis collection of songs.

Don’t let the first song fool you, because thenext song has a heavy rock beat that remindsme of some early Doors stuff. Calypso, Rock,Blues, Reggae, this CD has it all. Rick Reimerplays all the styles, and does it with a messagein each of the tunes.

The pull-out CD cover comes with the lyricsto all the songs so you can sing along, which isgood because it’s hard to resist joining in. Oneof my favorites is the title track, “The KillaloeRastaman” done to the Earls Scruggs andLester Flat tune, “The Beverly Hillbillies.” Thesong tells the story of Rastaman Bob who relo-cated to the Killaloe Hills. He starts growingthe best ganja around and of course, in the end,gets raided by the OPP (Ontario ProvincialPolice) who burn it, and being down wind getthe munchies. After the law leaves to the localdoughnut shop...“Well, the folks in the hills, they smell theganja fire.

They look upon the burning field and cry andcry and crySays Bob: ‘I got a secret tucked up under my hat.

I got three more fields bigger than that.”A very enjoyable CD to listen to while laying

back and enjoying some of Bobs’ crop.Catch you on the flip side. Rip Ready

If the politicians won’t look after the people,the artists must, and music shall be their voice.While my bemusement at the state of our world widens, the beauty and diversity of lifecontinues to astound me. I give thanks to allwho have inspired and encouraged me to createthis music, e

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