Pubdate: Thu, 28 Sep 2006
Source: Gazette, The (London, CN ON Edu)
Copyright: 2006 The Gazette
Contact:  http://www.gazette.uwo.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2548
Author: Cigdem Iltan

PROFESSOR: JUST CALL ME A POTHEAD - TRINITY GRANTS PROF PERMISSION TO TOKE

University of Toronto professor Doug Hutchinson is taking the idea of 
higher learning to a whole new level.

Hutchinson, who has used marijuana in varying amounts for a serious 
and chronic health condition for over 10 years, smokes marijuana 
openly and legally on campus.

While Hutchinson uses a ventilated smoking room in the basement of 
Trinity College, the school's authorities weren't always so 
accommodating. So far, the room designated for Hutchinson to smoke 
pot is only used by him, although he said he is certain others will 
eventually join him.

Last year University of Toronto and Trinity College authorities began 
acting on laws and policies to combat marijuana use among students. 
When it was discovered Hutchinson smoked on campus, the professor of 
philosophy was targeted as well.

Hutchinson was criticized from both a moral and criminal standpoint. 
Some questioned the example he set for his students. His 
responsibility as a father was questioned too, because he smoked in 
front of his two children."I got put down as an irresponsible father 
and a poor example to students," Hutchinson said.

After dealing with colleagues, university and college authorities, 
lawyers, cease and desist orders, and "wild arguments," the situation 
eventually calmed down when Hutchinson moved his pot smoking out of 
the closet and into the basement.

"A week ago Monday, when the media began to pick up the story, 
administration began to back off," he said. "I haven't heard from them since."

Hutchinson said his marijuana is supplied by compassion clubs, like 
Cannabis as Living Medicine and the Toronto Compassion Centre.

Compassion clubs, which provide medical-grade marijuana from 
different plants -- all with varying effects, were invented about 15 
years ago, Hutchinson said.

"They are a co-operative of dealers organized in different ways 
across the country," he said. "They are a group of dealers who deal 
to the sick only.

"Widely practised and widely tolerated, they are wonderful, 
knowledgeable, and supportive."

Despite Hutchinson's praises of compassion clubs, he acknowledged the 
government's views of such programs don't parallel his.

"The government would like to completely get rid of them. They think 
it has to be a monopoly distribution of illegal drugs," he said.

Hutchinson described the government's recent cuts to the medical 
marijuana research program as "window dressings."

"[Four millon dollars] has no real influence on government 
development and research?epidemiological testing is the only true 
test," he said.

Western currently has no policies in place for students, staff, or 
faculty who would need a location to use medical marijuana, said Tom 
MacFarlane, director of Western Health Services.

"There has been tremendous debate about this in the medical 
community," MacFarlane said. "It's a very interesting question. If 
the issue did come up it would probably be dependent on discussions 
between the doctor and patient? the law of the land would apply."
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MAP posted-by: Elaine