Skunk Magazine Helps Bring Canadian Activists to Negril by Ted Smith Jamaica has a natural romanticism that is undeniable. Long before the songs of Bob Marley drifted through the countryside and around the world, the beauty of this paradise attracted others to its shores. Unfortunately, politics and greed have crippled what should be a vibrant […]
Author: Ted Smith
Prohibition in Canada – Hempology 101 Textbook
by Ted Smith As new uses of hemp became discovered in the early 1900’s, the number of competitors also grew. These industries colluded with influential political figures to gradually eliminate cannabis from the marketplace by any means possible. In Canada, no one was more driven to create laws punishing so-called drug users than Emily Murphy. […]
19 Years of Compassion and Change
by Ted Smith With little fanfare, the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club just entered its 19th year of distributing cannabis products to patients this past weekend. Despite the lack of fireworks, there is a lot to celebrate. In just a short time, on March 20, the club will be the talk of the country as its […]
Hemp for Fuel
by Ted Smith One of the most intriguing uses of hemp is fuel. When Rudolf Diesel invented his engine in the late 1800’s it was made to burn fuels made with vegetable oils, much like the bio-diesel vehicles we often hear about today. Instead of using hemp or other more sustainable, environmentally friendly energy sources, […]
Updates, Warnings and Suggestions #43
by Ted Smith Well it appears as though I will be writing the “Updates, Etc.” article in each issue now, taking over from my love, Gayle Quin, who is struggling with her health. She will continue writing a personal note with each issue. (Ted and Gayle coloured Issue 42 of the Cannabis Digest) This newspaper […]
The Schlichten Decorticator
Perhaps the most important moment in the history of cannabis was in 1917 when George Schlichten announced to the world that he had invented a machine that could easily harvest hemp into high quality raw materials. Instead of propelling hemp production into high gear, however, this was the final straw for Wall Street, which immediately […]
R. v. Smith
(Supreme Court of Canada) by Ted Smith On March 20, 2015, the top nine judges in Canada will spend an entire day discussing whether cannabis derivatives deserve legal status similar to that of cannabis. This will be the first time in history that the Supreme Court of Canada has heard arguments regarding medical cannabis and […]
Bulletin 404
by Ted Smith While paper has historically been made out of hemp, it was not until 1916 that a method was devised that turned the inner cork into paper, making much more profitable for farmers to grow it almost overnight. The Department of Agriculture release Bulletin #404 that year, expecting this announcement to generate a […]
2014: A Year To Remember
by Ted Smith Last year was the best year for cannabis activism that I have witnessed in my almost 2 decades in the field. Indeed, the future has never looked brighter for cannabis, both in Canada and abroad. As we work together to make 2015 even better, lets take a minute to reflect upon the […]
Lyster Dewey
by Ted Smith One of the most important figures in American hemp history is Lyster Dewey. His efforts to revitalize hemp brought a new wave of interest in the plant at the turn of the 20th century. Farmers and industrialists alike were drawn to his vision. As the person in charge of the USA Department […]










