Canada’s Cannabis Journal since 2010
By Owen Smith With medical cannabis dispensaries opening up in cities across Canada, there is no general consensus on how they should operate. While illegal under federal law, they have been repeatedly vindicated by the courts for filling essential gaps in the federal medical marihuana access regime. Some municipalities are now crafting bylaws to regulate […]
Originally posted on Lift! By Owen Smith As jurisdictions in the United States and around the world begin to repeal aspects of cannabis prohibition, the emerging businesses and production facilities have begun to introduce a higher standard for cannabis derivative products. Testing laboratories have the ability to isolate and reject contaminants and meet requirements for […]
Government Issues Section 56 Exemptions By Owen Smith The landslide 7-0 decision from the Supreme Court of Canada in my favour is now a landmark in the landscape of Canadian cannabis litigation. The facts that we assembled form a fortified field position for further advancements against the forces of cannabis prohibition. While the war wages […]
By Owen Smith On Sunday, July 19th, Simon Fraser University Harbour Centre will host the 2015 Vancouver Cannabis Conference. With the city recently voting to regulate dispensaries and the Federal government maintaining their opposition: this year’s Federal election looms. Panels of experts have been formed to discuss the Medicinal Use of Cannabis; The Historical, Sacred, […]
By Owen Smith While not as ideal as dry sifting and making water hash, hand rubbing is the most basic method of separating the medicinal trichome heads from the body of the plant. This important step is at the centre of the constitutional challenge that I took to the Supreme Court of Canada in March […]
(image: MedicalJane) Water hash is another simple way to extract the trichome heads from the bulk of the cannabis plant. This important step in obtaining the desired medicinal compounds without ingesting the bulk of the plant was at the center of the constitutional challenge that was recently affirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada. Using […]
(Image: Fresh Headies) Making Dry Sift Hash Separating the medicinal ingredients stored in the trichomes head of the cannabis plant from the remaining inert material might prove to be the single most important step in making clean cannabis medicines. The bulbous glandular reservoir dangles precariously, like the cap of a glass mushroom, waiting for the […]
(Title image: Vancouver Sun) (This is part of a series of blogs by Owen Smith on the Medical Cannabis Extract Trial) On a cold December morning, 4 years after my arrest, I attended the BC Court of Appeal to witness the oral arguments of the two crown prosecutors and my lawyer, Kirk Tousaw, in front […]
By Owen Smith Kirk Tousaw is one of Canada’s top Cannabis lawyers. Born in the state of Michigan, Kirk has been an advocate for cannabis legalization since high school. He obtained a degree in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy before moving to Vancouver in 2002. There he completed his Masters thesis on the “Malmo-Levine case” […]
The recent announcement by the city of Vancouver to regulate medical cannabis dispensaries is causing a stir on all sides. The federal government immediately denounced the decision, Rona Ambrose repeating that dispensaries are not part of the legal Medical Marihuana regulations (MMPR). Licensed producers have spoken to the value of their service as superseding the […]