We filed a lawsuit against the province.
The VCBC is well known for its long standing work as a voice for patients who use cannabis as medicine. On May 2nd 2023 we filed for an injunction against the province and filed a constitutional challenge in a lawsuit against the province “in response to the three raids, $6.5 million dollars in fines and continued harassment of our landlords.”
The basis of the constitutional challenge is the failure of the federal medical cannabis program on two points: the 10 mg THC limit and the lack of storefront access.
He goes on to say, “We are looking forward to getting our case before a competent court to resolve these issues, which not only affect our patients but impact medical cannabis users across Canada. Our amazing lawyers have prepared solid constitutional arguments that should both protect our organization and force Health Canada to make important changes to their medical cannabis program.” The province amended the cannabis regulations last fall, removing the clubs’ ability to argue constitutional rights in the dispute against the immense fine. The province then made the new regulations retroactively applicable to our case, even though our proceedings started long before the changes in law.
While this is going on, the Club and the patients they serve are still waiting on Health Canada to make a final decision about our Exemption #56 application. Ted Smith points out that the Club has “very strong support from the city and from virtually every expert in drug policy in B.C
Cannabis Act Expert Panel Review
The Cannabis Act is undergoing a review now that we are five years since federal legalization. The Cannabis Act is being reviewed by a Health Canada appointed Expert Review Panel. These panelists have been undergoing a review of the Act for several months and are now in the process of taking in patient testimony of their experiences with legal medical cannabis.
We at the VCBC campaigned for the Expert Panel to hear from our members directly. The services we provide are unique because we are the last standing medical compassion club in all of Canada. Therefore we know the patients we serve offer a unique and valuable perspective on how the medical cannabis regulations can be changed for the better.
We are so honored to announce that the Panel agreed to hear from our members directly! The purpose of the meeting is for the Panel to hear from individuals who use cannabis for medical purposes and their caregivers to learn more about their experiences and any recommendations they may have. This engagement is a key step in the Panel’s ability to provide sound recommendations through the legislative review.
To maximize the efficiency and utility of the meeting we have narrowed down a list of participants who we believe showcase important perspectives and medical conditions who we have invited to speak at this limited meeting. We are waiting on permission from Health Canada to record the meeting and share with our networks, stay tuned for more information.
Intl. Medical Marijuana Day Picnic @ Beacon Hill Park
Sunday June 11th from 1pm to 5pm we will be hosting a picnic and playing some games on the grass at the Beacon Hill Baseball Diamond. If there’s enough interested players we will also play kick ball on the turf. Be sure to be there for 4:20pm!
We gather every year on this international holiday to celebrate the anniversary of the R v Smith 2015 unanimous supreme court of Canada decision that made cannabis extracts legal for patients across the country. Please bring something delicious to add to the table. We will be cooking hotdogs with some condiments and providing some chips. The event is wheelchair accessible and child friendly. There is ample parking available near the petting zoo in the park or along Douglas Street.
We are so looking forward to sharing an afternoon in the sun with our friends and family on this commemorative day!
We’re going to Pride!
Join us on Sunday July 9th, 2023 for the Victoria Pride Parade and Festival Finale!
We are so honored and hyped to be officially invited to participate in the Victoria Pride Parade and Festival! Our medical compassion club and our members will be there to support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and to represent medical cannabis users. Our hope is to provide visibility and access to this important medicine to patients who may not be aware of our services and presence in the community.
We will be participating in both the Parade as well as hosting an informational booth at the Festival Finale in James Bay. We will release more information on how to walk with us in the parade when we receive more details from the organizers. We want to invite persons of all abilities who are able to join us, and we will be centering mobility scooters and wheelchairs at the front of our float.
If walking in the parade isn’t feasible, we invite everyone to join us at our informational booth at the festival finale! We will have seating in the shade, a photobooth to use by donation, we will be providing cannabis education and information, and we will have our cannabis leaf mascot Herb on site too!
We are so looking forward to being a part of this magical and fun filled day! More information to come, stay tuned to our social media pages for updates and announcements.
Ted’s Birthday Fundraiser!
Ted is turning 54 on June 22nd, 2023! To celebrate the ole’ guy we will be hosting a Pie in the Face fundraiser at our new home on 1625 Quadra St!
Please join us at 4pm as we get ready to pie Ted in the face! We will get started at 4:20pm. First pie straight to his face goes to the highest bidder! All other pies in Ted’s face afterwards will be by donation. We will collect donations via cash or e-transfer to savethevcbc@gmail.com
At 6:30pm, after we’ve cleaned him up a bit, Ted will be speaking at City Hall in downtown Victoria. He will be there to thank the City Council for making a Proclamation of International Medical Marijuana Day. It will also be the first time the new City Council will be able to meet Ted and members of the VCBC. He will be there to let the council know about our work, as well as to update them on the situation with the province and our goals for the coming year.
Please join us for either event if you are able, it will be a fun day at the club and all the proceeds will go to the VCBC Legal fund to continue the fight for patients rights across Canada.
