Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club
An Urgent Appeal to Jim Pattison
Protecting vulnerable patients and their access to medical cannabis in Victoria, BC
Related Correspondence
Letter from the Mayor of Victoria
Dear Jim Pattison,
Hope this message finds you healthy and happy.
A humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Victoria and you might be the only person in the world who could stop the government from making a terrible mistake.
You might already be wondering what this has to do with you. Clearly you are not being threatened and none of this is your fault.
Our society is bonded together through government, but it is citizens like you and I that generate change and innovation. In certain circumstances, it is critical that brave individuals or small groups show some initiative and take actions that benefit the public good.
January 1, 2027
Many vulnerable and disabled patients could be forced to purchase their medicine from a street corner.
On January 1, 2027, many vulnerable and disabled patients could be forced to purchase their medicine from a street corner by a series of unnecessary actions taken by all levels of government.
We are reaching out to you in the hope you understand the medical benefits of cannabis and have heard about ongoing sagas of the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club.
Living in BC, we assume that you have learned a little about the medical uses of cannabis. However, you may not have heard how effective high doses of THC can be for people fighting cancer or trying to avoid the use of opiates to control pain.
Over 30 Years of Compassionate Care
For over 30 years, the VCBC has been supplying high dose edibles and other high quality products at low prices to patients suffering from serious medical problems. One of our products, for example, is our 250 mg THC suppositories, which are primarily used by cancer patients. Our $3 cookies contain 75 mg THC, compared to the 10 mg THC cookies for sale in legal stores which typically cost about $10. We even won a unanimous decision at the Supreme Court of Canada in 2015 that made cannabis edibles legal for patients.
There has been a legal medical cannabis program in Canada since 2001. Unfortunately, that program is mail order only and there are no high dose edibles available. These are some of the reasons why most Canadians using cannabis as a medicine purchase from a retail store without consulting any healthcare professional. Legalization has not improved things much for patients, in part because employees in recreational storefronts are not allowed to give advice on the medical uses of cannabis.
In fact, cannabis is the only medicine or herb in the country that you can buy in a storefront where the person who is selling the product is not able to give you any advice on the medical uses. When you purchase any other pharmaceutical or herb in a storefront in Canada, the person behind the till can help you understand what to use, at what dose and how frequently it should be used.
Instead of working with compassion clubs like the VCBC, the provincial and federal governments designed legalization to maximize tax revenue. Since legalization, medical cannabis clubs across the country have been threatened, raided and fined by authorities, with the VCBC being one of the very few still surviving.
A Community Under Threat
For the last few years, the VCBC has been operating from a beautiful storefront in downtown Victoria. However, after a raid this spring, the province has taken an aggressive step towards seizing the building from our landlord. At the same time, a lien has been placed on the home of the vice-president of the VCBC, Clea Maclean, who is also my partner, as a result of the fines imposed on the club by the province.
The VCBC has filed to the courts for a judicial review to consider how the government is violating the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. However, a judge has not even been chosen yet, so it will be some time before a final decision is handed down. Given the recent decision in the DULF trial, we believe we have strong evidence and reasonable arguments that will convince the judiciary that the Cannabis Act continues to violate the rights of patients.
Unfortunately, the lease at 1625 Quadra Street is ending at the end of 2026. We have been informed that unless a 3rd party is willing to sign an indemnity to protect the landlord against any potential losses, we will be required to vacate the property at the end of the year. This indemnity would need to be in the range of $5-10 million.
An Urgent Request
A $5–10 million indemnity
A third-party guarantee could allow the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club to remain in its current home while the courts consider its constitutional challenge.
If you, or some other angel like you, signed this indemnity, it would mean thousands of patients could continue to safely access their medicine without unnecessary complications. It would mean many cancer patients could focus on their health rather than anxiously searching for medicine that works, that they can afford. It would give the courts time to consider our evidence without causing undue hardship on our most vulnerable citizens.
If no one signs this indemnity, it will mean a lot of people will suffer from severe anxiety as we attempt to survive from a RV parked beside city hall. In that position, we will be quite vulnerable to further enforcement action by the province. It is impossible to calculate the amount of stress and pain that would result from the VCBC being forced to close.
A Legacy of Compassion
As you approach the end of a spectacular career, you might be looking for projects that leave a legacy of compassion and community. Providing this indemnity to ensure our patients continue to have access to their medicine while we wait for the courts to rule on these important constitutional matters would be a huge contribution to civil society.
Ultimately, we are confident this indemnity will not cost you any money, as our victory in court will settle this matter, leaving us in our home with our wonderful landlords.
Please help us so we can help our patients and change the cannabis laws so future generations can take full advantage of the medicinal properties of this incredible herb. We would love to have you come visit the VCBC first, so you can see for yourself our precious little club.
Feel free to contact me at any time to discuss this situation. It is a complex problem but one that can be fixed without any more pain or anxiety than our community has already experienced.
Have a fantastic day.
Ted Smith
Founder and President
Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club
