SICK DRAWN TO POT CLUB

Long recognized as a tourism mecca, Coombs is earning a name as a centre
for healing.

The Coombs chapter of the Vancouver Island Cannabis Buyers Club is now the
mid-Island source for medical marijuana.

Don Lavallee, the former B.C. Marijuana Party candidate, scrubbed plans to
open a so-called compassion club in Nanaimo this fall.

That makes the Coombs pot buyers club the only one north of Victoria.
"We're up to 35, 36 members," says Mark Russell, organizer of the local pot
buyers club.

Of those, he estimates one-third come from Nanaimo.

Russell caters to chronically ill people wanting to take advantage of new
legislation allowing the medical use of marijuana to treat pain.

He buys cannabis from street dealers and growers, then resells it to people
with chronic illness.

"I have to compete with the rest of society for it," he says. "My job is so
you don't have to spend your time and energy to buy it."

He charges regular street prices - $10 a gram - roughly enough for two thin
joints.

"I can't undercharge because that wouldn't go over well, I'm sure, and I
don't want to be known as a cheap place to get cheap weed."

Russell, who owns and operates The Hemp Store, insists the club is not a
place for recreational users to score.

"We are dealing strictly with people with a medical need," he says.

"If you have incurable pain or illness, bring me proof of it and we'll sign
you up and provide as much pot as is necessary."

While marijuana can now be legally used by anyone with a medical need, it
is still illegal for non-medical users.

RCMP are aware of the club, and so far they haven't taken any action
against it.

But they still might, says Const. Andy Rickaby, RCMP drug awareness
coordinator for the central Island region.

Rickaby says under the new drug legislation, patients must obtain medical
grade marijuana through Health Canada.

"I'm not completely sure about their procedure, but as far as I know
they're not working within the guidelines of Health Canada," he says.

But Coombs is under the Oceanside (Parksville) detachment's jurisdiction,
so Nanaimo RCMP wouldn't get involved, anyway.

Sgt. Phil Humphries, of the RCMP's federal drug enforcement unit, says the
law applies equally to everyone.

"If it comes to the attention of police, we'll certainly investigate,"
Humphries says.

"If something illegal is going on we'll take steps to correct it, or
dismantle any illegal activities going on."

Russell is keeping his eyes over his shoulders.

"I haven't seen any police yet, knock on wood," he says.