Pubdate: Tue, 23 Jan 2007
Source: Ladysmith Chronicle (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 BC Newspaper Group & New Media
Contact:  http://www.ladysmithchronicle.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1279
Author: Rebecca Aldous
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada)

POT BUST CONCERNS LOCAL USER

A Ladysmith man is worried recent charges against a medical marijuana 
supplier will force chronically ill people to the streets for their herb.

James Breau, a member of the Central Island Compassion Club, holds a 
licence from Health Canada to use marijuana, unlike many of the other 
members of the compassion club. Breau is able to buy medical 
marijuana from the government. He said the charges laid against the 
club's founder Mark Russell, forces those without to buy marijuana 
from unreliable street sources.

"You never know what you are getting when you buy off the streets," Breau said.

He noted all members of the Parksville compassion club are faced with 
chronic and debilitating disease, from cancer to arthritis.

Breau is diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. He said by 
pressuring the club, police have now cut off an important source of 
pain medication for all members.

"Marijuana is not at all a cure," Breau said. "It just eases some of 
the misery."

Medical Marijuana Access Regulations, which came into force on July 
30, 2001, define circumstances and the manner in which access to 
marijuana for medical purposes is permitted.

"Health Canada has an obligation to provide a consistent, high 
quality, legally available source of marijuana to people authorized 
under the Marijuana Medical Access regulations," said Health Canada 
spokeswoman Renee-France Bergeron. "Health Canada is committed to 
providing compassionate access to marijuana for medical purposes to 
people who are suffering from serious illness, for whom therapies 
have not worked and who have support of their physician."

She said the Canadian government believes clinical research regarding 
marijuana for therapeutic purposes and the development of use-based 
products is best undertaken and funded by the pharmaceutical industry.

Duncan-based Phytocan was the first company in Canada to develop a 
cannabis-based product. Phytocan president Eric Nash and operations 
manager Wendy Little are legally allowed to sell marijuana for 
medicinal purposes.

Russell, however, said he does not have necessary legal paperwork for 
his five-year-old compassion club. Yet, he said the club is 
legitimate and not a front for drug users. All members of his club 
provide proof of their medical condition.

He feels the charges of trafficking against him have scared medicinal 
users into hiding.

"This has installed fear into these people," Russell said. "They 
already have enough stress and agony in their lives."

Russell's client list ranges from those suffering from Multiple 
Sclerosis to Lupus. Russell noted his compassion club is not a grand 
money maker, as he doesn't sell huge quantities of marijuana.

"This is not about hippies and dope," Russell said. "This is about 
people and medicine."

Comox RCMP Const. Chad Gargus disagrees. He said Russell's 85 
member-customer list is a lot more than the average dealer would have.

"This so-called compassion club is selling at above premium prices 
for marijuana going on the street," said Gargus.

He said there is no gray area surrounding the use of medicinal 
marijuana, one either has a licence or they don't, the same as with 
other prescription drugs. Gargus noted when the case goes to trial 
more reasons will be revealed as to why police went after the club.

"Sometimes [members] may provide a doctors' note saying they have 
something," said Gargus. "Sometimes they just filled out a piece of 
paper saying they do indeed have some sort of pain that they feel 
requires medical marijuana."

Russell faces six counts of trafficking a controlled substance. 
Approximately 390 grams of marijuana was seized by police in the 
raid. Russell's trial is scheduled for March.

"This is not a visible club and that is why it was targeted," Breau said.

Ladysmith's James Breau has a Health Canada licence to possess 
medical marijuana. He said the recent search warrant on Parksville's 
Mark Russell's marijuana compassion club will force people with 
chronic illness to buy their medical marijuana off the streets.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman