By Ted Smith It has been a busy winter preparing for the Supreme Court of Canada trial and there is much relief that it is over. At least the hard work is over and now we are preparing to celebrate when the decision comes down. Owen Smith has gone from our head baker to a […]
Month: April 2015
Gardens Vs. Factories
(Image By Mark Lehtimaki) Patients Fight to Keep Control of their Health, Plants and Cookies “My doctors told me I’d never walk again, never talk again. Marijuana is the difference maker,” Davey said. For the first time ever, a judge has heard arguments in the Federal Court of Canada between patients and the government on […]
A letter to Her Majesty the Queen Regarding Cannabis Extracts
On March 20th, 2015 the Supreme Court of Canada heard arguments for and against medical cannabis derivative products becoming legally available to authorized patients. The courtroom was filled with supporters while many others watched in the overflow rooms and on the CPAC live stream. The entire proceeding was recorded and is available to view online […]
Vancouver’s Green Rush
Unprecedented Increase in Cannabis Dispensaries Causing Growing Pains When is something illegal? It’s a simple question with multiple answers depending upon what that “something” represents in the question. In the case of medical marijuana, that simple question has become infinitely more complex in Canada than it used to be. It is clear that according to […]
Victoria’s 420 Roots
By Ted Smith This year marks 18 years of gathering at City Hall in Victoria B.C. on April 20 to smoke copious amounts of cannabis. With an expected crowd of 2,000, it is one of the largest annual protests held in the provincial capital. Many wonder how it got so big. The beginning of meeting […]
Updates from The Cold Eastern Front
By Debbie Stultz-Giffin Maritimers Unite for Medical Marijuana Society (MUMM) is outraged over the escalating trend of law enforcement in Nova Scotia to lay charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act against medical cannabis patients for growing and possessing their medicine. The Medical Marijuana Purposes Regulations (MMPR) implemented last spring endeavoured to cancel the […]
Weed Woman: Gayle Quin Loves Her Plants
From the tender age of 13, Gayle Quin was destined to be a cannabis activist. It began in 1970. Her mom threw out plants she found in the house. Gayle defiantly picked the plants up and replanted them near her home. There was a very good reason she has fought so hard for this […]
Historic Extract trial Hits Ottawa
Decision Should Radically Change How Cannabis Is Used As Medicine In Canada ”Would you confine your points to things that really matter!” This was the last thing Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin said to crown lawyer Paul Riley before Riley quickly closed his arguments. It was an appropriate ending to a special morning in the Supreme Court […]
Ruminations From the Cannabis Digest Editor
(image: animalnewyork) By Judith Stamps Here is one of my favourite fantasies. It is some time in the future. The war on drugs is defunct, and cannabis is legal. We are in the midst of a cultural renaissance. The film industry is on fire, producing new ‘post prohibition movies’ every year. Literary fiction on cannabis […]
The Extract Trial: Not Guilty
By Owen Smith In April 2012, our argument for extracts had been successful in the BC Supreme Court, effectively legalizing medicinal cannabis extracts for federally licensed patients, and eventually their caregivers, in British Columbia. However, the judge ruled that my trial should proceed regardless of the constitutional victory because “society’s interests in having the charges […]