A Retrospective Look at the Future of Canadian Drug Policy
(Part 1 of 3)
By Ryan Fink
The past decade has seen much progress in what is fast becoming a revolution surrounding government drug policy and social attitudes toward drug culture in Canada. The endurance and proliferation across the country of illegal medicinal cannabis providers over the past decade, alongside the blossoming of the medical pot industry in many states south of the border, has been a testament to both the resilience of the anti-prohibition movement and the moral integrity of its objective. Despite numerous police raids, all followed by long and expensive court proceedings, the fight against prohibition has continuously gained strength—and more importantly, public support—all in the face of being left unprotected by broken laws.
In previous Cannabis Digest articles, Ted Smith has been documenting the progression of Owen Smith’s (no relation) recent encounter with the Supreme Court of B.C. After Owen effectively changed federal law for British Columbians in 2012, it seems like a good time to take a step back and look at our most recent case in light of the V-CBC’s (once the CBC of C) past encounters with the police and courts, as well as to look at where things might be headed, and to let you know about how you can help in this ongoing process of changing regulations and public attitudes.
To help in understanding my personal perspective on this transition, (and because this is the first time I’ve written for the Digest), I’ll introduce myself: my name is Ryan Fink. My recent addition to the newspaper crew has been a kind of return. After spending nearly 10 years wandering stoned through the halls of various academic institutions, I have been glad these past few months to have been re-immersed in the world of Hempology. The timing of my return was coincidental: it was a trial, or rather waiting for one, that saw me leave Hempology and the CBC of C in the fall of 2003, and I returned the day before BC Supreme Court Justice Johnston released his decision regarding the unconstitutionality of the MMAR’s restrictions on processed cannabis derivatives in my colleague Owen Smith’s Extract Trial.
I don’t have to tell anyone who has been following events for the past decade, but things have changed since my departure. One day soon someone will write a thick book going into the details of this radical transformation; but for now, having myself only begun to understand how things have changed and continue to change, I’ll keep my analysis simple: the situation has gotten immensely better. Moreover, Justice Johnston’s recent decision continues this trend, a trend that seems to be driven largely by a combination of the perseverance of people who are willing to fight for the right to self-medicate, and who are now cheek-by-jowl with an increasing number of judges and other powerful persons who are themselves now willing to fight the questionable illusions tossed hastily about by conservative politicians and the corporate lobbyists who bankroll them.
The greatest difference between then and now seems to be summed most easily for me by comparing the outcomes of this latest court case with the outcomes of those court cases of a decade ago. Back in the early millennium, the court case was secondary to the raid that preceded it. Ten years ago a raid would cost the club many thousands of dollars in immediate losses, and would result in lost business while members overcame their fear that the police would return any day to close the doors finally.
Then the court case was a mere formality following the costly raid, a simple engagement of massive public resources for the purpose of having a judge tell us that we weren’t doing anything wrong, and that the police were wrong to rob us (however impossible it was for them to repay us, or be brought to justice themselves for what, from our perspective, amounted to nothing more than robbery and harassment). Nowadays the raids are accidental, the court cases monumental.
(Stay Tuned to the Cannabis Digest Daily Blog for Part 2 of Trial By Fire)
Very well written, it used to be that we were very proud to be Canadian and over a period of time we seem to have lost that and also respect. We are at a cross roads of soon to be history and it’s the people that will prevail. I believe in our power we have gone from the hunted to the predator. Viva la revolution.
I am encouraged that many well meaning and responsible PARENTS and GRANDPARENTS are getting involved in this movement. Many people in this community have been rallying long and hard for lasting Cannabis Reform. But now we see people that seem unlikely advocates for cannabis proving to be a driving force in changing an age old perception that cannabis is “bad”. Infact, it took intractable illness (conditions that do not respond to conventional therapies) and some very brave caregivers to raise a hightened sense of awareness about the holy grail of medicine from the plant kingdom. No one can deny the shift in perception once the Western world saw Charlotte Figi transform before their eyes from having hundreds of seizures a day to living life again, seizure free. The “Weed” documentary was not the first to shed light on the benefits of cannabis and it won’t be the last. In my mind…. when I saw the life of this child transformed by a plant it sparked a desire in me to learn everything I could about cannabis. I Momma’d UP! And gave my own daughter cannabis to treat her intractable seizures with similar transformative results. The vast majority of people on this planet have an instinct of sympathy for children. Many are Parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Caregivers who have a special bond with one or many little people. Some people see themselves as guardians for kids who need them, no relation required. These people fill our streets and our neighboorhoods. THESE PEOPLE are becoming aware and educated because the media (with the help of educated advocates) are showing them a very different perspective on cannabis culture, one that HAS to be defended by all for the sake of the next generation.
CANNABIS has earned HOPE Status!
It is becoming a symbol of HOPE for a future world. Ours is a world of depletion. The instinct to protect the next generation is STRONG and inate! Cannabis fills a void in both medicine and nutrition that we have been without for a very long time.
Every time the opportunity presents itself, I explain to folks…..
“Cannabionds, like those found in cannabis, are plentiful in mother’s milk. When a parent breastfeeds her baby she passing on valuable cannabinoids that do two very important things….FIRST, they enhance the child’s immunity and SECONDLY they help the baby to thrive…”
“How do they help the child to thrive?”
“Well you’ve probaly heard how cannabis gives us the munchies! The desire to eat, the increased salivation, the suck and swallow response, these are all linked to the effect that cannabinoids have on our bodies. It would make sense to me that cannabinoids are responsible for the success of the infant for as long as that infant is nursing and the mother has enough to supply the child”
“What if a Mother can’t nurse or chooses not to?”
“That’s a good question. I suppose it would be advantagous to look at providing cannabinoids in the baby’s food as a supplement, those can easily and abundantly be sourced from the cannabis plant in non psychoacive forms. Whole plant extracts would give our children an aresenal of immune support and reduce their risk of developing cancer or degenerative disease later in life.”
BOOOYAHHHH! I have shared science based, priceless information that has hopefully enlightened an individual to perhaps shift their thinking. To reconsider cannabis in a light befitting it’s greatness, is a powerful thing. I have seen it happen many times since I have started advocating for an end to the prohibition of cannabis.” I suppose I like to share the knowledge that cannabis IS FOR EVERYONE and I always try to show respect to others that don’t care to or do not enjoy getting high. The issue of getting high is so trivial. There is so much this plant has to offer society. There are ways to avoid a psychoactive effect. I often tell others that I don’t see any problem with grown ups who enjoy the high. The high can be enjoyed responsibly and I advocate for liberty of oneself. I rather try to focus on the healing and nutritional aspects of the plant. I find it works very well with the common sense people of the world and the heart bleeders like myself who would not see a child suffer needlessly.
It is exciting to be present for this moment in history when people of the world are becoming aware and enlightened to the mistakes of the past. Sharing solutions to the challenges we face as human beings is so inate in our species, after all we must adapt but always in keeping with the law of nature. I always say…… “We can’t improve on natures blueprint”! It was designed perfectly to sustain us and help us thrive.