Pubdate: Wed, 12 Feb 2014
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2014 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/send_a_letter
Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Martin Cash

SUPPORT FLIES IN FOR HEAD-SHOP OWNERS

Weed Advocates Protest 'Injustice' Of Police Raids

LOCAL head-shop owners who've received warnings from police - two of
whom have been charged with crimes and another two who say they are
closing their stores - have received support from a high-profile
medical marijuana advocate and a Toronto author and television producer.

Randy Caine, the founder of Langley Medical Marijuana Dispensary and a
candidate for mayor of Langley, B.C., and Brian O'Dea, a former pot
smuggler who's now an award-winning author and television producer in
Toronto, were in Winnipeg Tuesday. They said they wanted to highlight
the injustice they believe has been done to a number of Winnipeg store
owners who, among other things, sell pipes and smoking
paraphernalia.

The two articulate, soft-spoken critics of heavy-handed police tactics
warned of a slippery slope when it comes to civic rights and were
advocating for more dialogue with civic leaders.

Appearing with Jeremy Loewen, the owner of Hemp Haven whose store is
closed and who is facing two charges, and Steven Stairs, a Winnipeg
medical marijuana advocate, O'Dea said, "I am here because I perceive
an injustice has been perpetrated and I want to bring some volume to
the matter... These are not criminals. These are young business
entrepreneurs employing family people."

Loewen said while he does not know why he was raided and charged, he
does not begrudge the actions of the police, who he said were just
doing what they thought they were supposed to do.

He figures it's a bylaw issue and "we would like to work that
out."

Loewen said there is some talk about forming a trade association. "I
think it would be a good idea where everyone operates under the same
guidelines," he said.

O'Dea said, "When you get together and unify, perhaps you can direct
the conversation in a way that makes rational sense as opposed to the
hyperbole and emotion."

O'Dea, originally from Newfoundland, became a large-scale
international marijuana smuggler and was sentenced to 10 years in
prison in the U.S. after he'd turned his life around and had become a
counsellor at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility in California.

He wrote an autobiographical account of his life as a dope smuggler, 
High: Confessions of an International Drug Smuggler, which won the 
2007 Arthur Ellis Award in the best non-fiction crime category. He's 
now working at turning that book into a movie and has also been 
involved in producing and writing reality television shows.

Caine, who flew to Winnipeg at his own expense and also paid O'Dea's
travel expenses, said he came in an effort to broaden and facilitate
the discussion.

"I'm just trying to enhance the dialogue," Caine said. "Brian (O'Dea)
is a friend of mine. We have known each other for several years. I
thought his background might help all of us understand the situation.
I'm delighted I came."

Steven Stairs, who has Health Canada authorization to possess medical
marijuana to control his glaucoma, said he believes it is disingenuous
on the part of the government, who on one hand advise medical
marijuana users vaporizing marijuana is a safe way to consume it, and
then force the closure of the stores that sell such equipment. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D