POT BUST CONCERNS LOCAL USER

A Ladysmith man is worried recent charges against a medical marijuana
supplier will force chronically ill people to the streets for their herb.

James Breau, a member of the Central Island Compassion Club, holds a
licence from Health Canada to use marijuana, unlike many of the other
members of the compassion club. Breau is able to buy medical
marijuana from the government. He said the charges laid against the
club's founder Mark Russell, forces those without to buy marijuana
from unreliable street sources.

"You never know what you are getting when you buy off the streets," Breau said.

He noted all members of the Parksville compassion club are faced with
chronic and debilitating disease, from cancer to arthritis.

Breau is diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. He said by
pressuring the club, police have now cut off an important source of
pain medication for all members.

"Marijuana is not at all a cure," Breau said. "It just eases some of
the misery."

Medical Marijuana Access Regulations, which came into force on July
30, 2001, define circumstances and the manner in which access to
marijuana for medical purposes is permitted.

"Health Canada has an obligation to provide a consistent, high
quality, legally available source of marijuana to people authorized
under the Marijuana Medical Access regulations," said Health Canada
spokeswoman Renee-France Bergeron. "Health Canada is committed to
providing compassionate access to marijuana for medical purposes to
people who are suffering from serious illness, for whom therapies
have not worked and who have support of their physician."

She said the Canadian government believes clinical research regarding
marijuana for therapeutic purposes and the development of use-based
products is best undertaken and funded by the pharmaceutical industry.

Duncan-based Phytocan was the first company in Canada to develop a
cannabis-based product. Phytocan president Eric Nash and operations
manager Wendy Little are legally allowed to sell marijuana for
medicinal purposes.

Russell, however, said he does not have necessary legal paperwork for
his five-year-old compassion club. Yet, he said the club is
legitimate and not a front for drug users. All members of his club
provide proof of their medical condition.

He feels the charges of trafficking against him have scared medicinal
users into hiding.

"This has installed fear into these people," Russell said. "They
already have enough stress and agony in their lives."

Russell's client list ranges from those suffering from Multiple
Sclerosis to Lupus. Russell noted his compassion club is not a grand
money maker, as he doesn't sell huge quantities of marijuana.

"This is not about hippies and dope," Russell said. "This is about
people and medicine."

Comox RCMP Const. Chad Gargus disagrees. He said Russell's 85
member-customer list is a lot more than the average dealer would have.

"This so-called compassion club is selling at above premium prices
for marijuana going on the street," said Gargus.

He said there is no gray area surrounding the use of medicinal
marijuana, one either has a licence or they don't, the same as with
other prescription drugs. Gargus noted when the case goes to trial
more reasons will be revealed as to why police went after the club.

"Sometimes [members] may provide a doctors' note saying they have
something," said Gargus. "Sometimes they just filled out a piece of
paper saying they do indeed have some sort of pain that they feel
requires medical marijuana."

Russell faces six counts of trafficking a controlled substance.
Approximately 390 grams of marijuana was seized by police in the
raid. Russell's trial is scheduled for March.

"This is not a visible club and that is why it was targeted," Breau said.

Ladysmith's James Breau has a Health Canada licence to possess
medical marijuana. He said the recent search warrant on Parksville's
Mark Russell's marijuana compassion club will force people with
chronic illness to buy their medical marijuana off the streets.