Pubdate: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Contact: ACTIVIST PUSHES BENEFITS OF MEDICAL POT Julie Skulski marched in 1975 for the decriminalization of marijuana, and on Monday, the 68-year-old woman was still advocating that pot be legalized. She was among the handful of people who looked older than 20 at a downtown rally where ``green'' cookies were handed out in honour of International Medical Marijuana Day. ``I smoke and my friends all smoke,'' said Skulski, who looks like a story book vision of a rosy-cheeked grandmother. Ted Smith handed out the 101 cookies -- lumpy brown pucks with chocolate chips and, he said, about a half pound of marijuana in total -- at a noon rally outside the Victoria public library. He is pushing for more acceptance of pot's medicinal uses to alleviate pain and help treat people with long term illnesses. ``The need for medical marijuana is enormous,'' said Smith. Recent initiatives by Health Canada for the medical use of marijuana should be speeded up and broadened, he said. So far, Health Canada has granted exemptions to 16 people who use marijuana for medicinal purposes. The 16, from across Canada, can possess and grow marijuana without being prosecuted. It is still illegal, however, to buy marijuana on the street. The fear of being caught buying on the street is something Don Tyson faces every month. The 40-year-old Victoria man said he smokes at least two joints a week to relieve stress that, left on its own, triggers epileptic fits. With regular marijuana use, seizures that used to happen three to four times a week have been dramatically reduced. Tyson said his last seizure was in February. Tyson wouldn't take a cookie, though, saying that too many of the people at the rally seemed simply to be there for a free high, not to learn about how it can help people who are ill. ``I'm just here to show support for the medical use of marijuana,'' Tyson said. A few attending candidly admitted they were there to pick up a cookie. Nathan Kopichanski said he smokes pot regularly because drinking alcohol turns him into a jerk. Another man said he's on the methadone program, and that marijuana helps keep him from returning to heroin. Smith agreed that he may have been preaching to the converted at the rally, but said even if someone takes a bit of new information home about the medical use of marijuana, that's a success. ``It's all education,'' he said. ``That's why we're outside the library.'' One girl took two cookies: one for herself, and the other to take home to her mother, who has chronic pain from fibromyalgia. Brian Barber attended to get information on how a caregiver can legally buy marijuana. His father is terminally ill, and morphine does nothing to help his pain. Barber didn't take a cookie, but did take a pamphlet on the Vancouver Island Cannabis Buyers Club, which supplies marijuana to people with incurable medical conditions. Barber is in a position many caregivers and family members find themselves when trying to offer solace for loved ones who are ill. ``It seems to be one of the only viable options, but there are no legitimate sources,'' said Barber, who won't buy it on the street. It is even illegal for the caregivers of the 16 people exempted by Health Canada to possess marijuana. ``Currently, there is no licit source in Canada. That is one of the issues that is under consideration,'' said Reva Berman, spokeswoman for Health Canada. Health Canada is also funding scientific studies into the medicinal use of marijuana. The studies start in the new year. A uniformed Victoria city police officer was at the rally, because police had received a complaint. Charges are not anticipated. Media liaison officer Mike Yeager was also there. Both left after the cookies were handed out. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart