POT PARTY TO SUPPLY MEDICINAL MARIJUANA

The B.C. Marijuana Party plans to establish a "compassion club" in Kamloops
to supply pot to those with documented illness.

Vern Falk, the party's provincial election candidate in Kamloops-North
Thompson, said Tuesday he will be involved setting up a non-profit society
here.

"It will probably happen near where my office is," said Falk, who opened an
election office in the 700-block of Victoria Street. "I've talked to the
landlord and he doesn't have a problem."

The Kamloops club would become part of a compassion network in B.C. to be
established by September, including outlets in the west end of Vancouver,
Nanaimo, Kelowna and Prince George. There are plans to expand later to
communities such as Chilliwack and Revelstoke.

"A lot of people who are in need of medical marijuana are in wheelchairs,
disabled or suffering certain levels of poverty," said Marc Emery, the
party's wealthy president and marijuana activist.

Emery added the network will be a source for private sale of marijuana if
the drug becomes legalized.

Similar clubs operate in the Vancouver area, Montreal and Calgary,
providing marijuana in bulk prices much lower than the drug would cost on
the street.

Falk said plans are preliminary and details are being worked out.
Recipients would be expected to provide a physician's note as part of their
pain management. He said he expects to see clients with multiple sclerosis
and AIDS.

"That option will be available to physicians. The College of Physicians and
Surgeons is against it. (But) there are compassionate doctors out there."

Kamloops RCMP spokesman Randy Brown said distribution of marijuana would
have to be done under Health Canada guidelines. He doubts the legality of
such an operation here.

"There's no reason for a compassion club. Government will have sources, so
it takes away from these issues."

The federal government has approved one experimental marijuana grower and
there are a very small number of Canadians who are allowed to smoke
marijuana for medicinal purposes.

This month, the House of Commons voted to create a committee to examine
non-medical drugs, and several MPs said it will study decriminalization.

Prime Minister Jean Chretien said the issue has been debated for 30 years
and the fact Canadians are discussing it again is healthy.

Brown warned proponents to come first to RCMP before setting up shop downtown.

"Let's talk face to face and we'll tell them what will happen," he said.