POT DISTRIBUTION DRAWS PROTEST

The home of the man behind Nanaimo's first medical marijuana club
became the target of protests this week.

And in a stroke of irony, the man protesting the Nanaimo Compassion
Club's home was himself turned down by his own doctor for medical marijuana.

Richard Pollock, 54, has hepatitis C, which is among the illnesses
approved by Health Canada for treatment with cannabis.

But Pollock said when he asked his doctor about getting licensed to
use the drug, he was told he doesn't qualify.

Lately he's been standing on the corner of Victoria Road and Milton
Street, wielding a sign saying "No grow shows" on one side and "No
drug dealers" on the other.

An RCMP officer honked as she drove by Thursday, then nodded
approvingly, a broad smile on her face. Other drivers honked in
support of Pollock's protest, in a neighbourhood known for its illegal
drug problems.

Pollock said he's not against medical marijuana, just how James
Younger distributes it, from a compassion club set up in his home.

Younger delivers it by bicycle to club members who are licensed by
Health Canada to use medical marijuana.

The other option for the chronically ill is to order it directly from
Health Canada, which grows it under contract in an abandoned mine in
Flin Flon, Man.

Pollock said the government should distribute pot.

"I'm for medical marijuana but there should be a licensed grower that
the government keeps under tight tabs," Pollock said. "It should be
distributed through a pharmacy. He's no different than a street dealer."

Younger watched the protester from inside his home at 202 Victoria Rd.
He is determined to supply the drug that people with multiple
sclerosis, AIDS and cancer say is the only thing that eases the pain.

He admits he's breaking the law, but says it's a matter of principle.
"I'm trying to help people with chronic illness and chronic pain,"
Younger said. "There is no real profit for me."

He spent Thursday morning peddling deliveries to club members. He said
he's already been stopped by RCMP, but so far he hasn't been searched.
Nanaimo RCMP plan to keep a sharp eye on him.

"We have received a complaint and someone has been assigned to
investigate, but in terms of what direction that investigation will
take I can't say," said Staff Sgt. Jack MacNeill of the Nanaimo RCMP.

RCMP are entrusted to enforce the law, and distributing marijuana is
illegal.

"There are rare exceptions to the rule, but a lot of people will play
the compassion card without any supporting proof of that," MacNeill
said. "It's easy to play the compassion card."