LEGIT GROWER TAKES HELM AT POT CLUB

Being Licensed by Health Canada Makes Delivery Service for Sick 'A
Little More Legal'

The Mid-Island Compassion Society continues its slow growth under new
management, and the risk of criminal charges have been reduced since
a licensed medicinal marijuana user took over for founder James
Younger three weeks ago.

Cliff Coombs took over the society that now delivers pot to 15
regular customers from Ladysmith to Nanaimo.

With a Health Canada licence to carry up to 300 grams of dried
marijuana - and with permission to deliver pot to other patients -
Coombs has far less to worry about than his predecessor, who quickly
drew police attention when he started delivering pot in February.

A spokesman for one compassion club in Vancouver said that survival
depends heavily on police turning a blind eye, while another manager
in Victoria said his society has never been closed down, despite
police efforts. Coombs hopes to avoid such a hassle by slowly
introducing the society to police and city council. He's on the look
out for a store front, but wants to get established first.

His licence allows him to possess and deliver pot, but he still wants
the community to understand and accept what he's doing.

"I'm a little more legal than anyone else, so when James couldn't do
it, I took over rather than leave all the other patients in limbo,"
he said Wednesday.

Coombs has considerable compassion for those living with chronic
pain. Living with HIV and a string of other agonizing diseases forces
him to smoke seven to 10 grams every day, partially for the pain and
partially to build up an appetite. His HIV medication severely
suppresses his hunger.

He also lives with the dull pain of bursitis in his right shoulder,
osteoporosis in his left shoulder and arthritis all through his right
hand. His consideration for others, however, can only go so far, if
the society is to continue operations.

Coombs only delivers to patients certified by Health Canada. "Unless
they have documentation," he will not service them.

"It's difficult, but it's the only way to survive," he said. "It
would be nice to let anybody in, but it doesn't work that way. In
order to protect the society I have to have the documentation."

Mayor Gary Korpan has expressed disapproval of people using medicinal
marijuana, but city councillors have had no official discussions
about the society. Nanaimo RCMP have not commented on the operation.