TUMOR STORY A NICE TOUCH

The busting of Mark Russell and the Mid-Island Compassion Club reminds
me of Charles Dickens' apt quote: "The law is an ass."

At the same time, it draws attention to a community-need.

I hate to say it, and I know they are only doing their job, but as a
proud multi-generation RCMP brat I'm sorry to see them tasked with
chasing people whose only choice to live comfortably with their
various diagnosed ailments is to use medicinal marijuana. What a waste
of their already stretched resources.

As a RN on disability, a patient of, and founding member of the B.C
Compassion Club Society (BCCCS) -- a respected and valued medicinal
marijuana dispensary for well over a decade -- Mark Russell's biggest
problems are that he has a compassionate devotion to provide medicinal
marijuana despite a legal system that does not adequately support its
use -- and he's too trusting of people.

All the undercover RCMP Officer posing as a brain tumor patient proved
was just that the club caters to those in need, especially when they
present themselves with a caretaker --- nice touch, officer. It also
shows that the club needs to be less trusting and tighten up its proof
of eligibility requirements.

Can you spell entrapment? Sheesh!

My father, and the rest of my NWMP/RCMP ancestors, would be utterly
disgusted.

All this schmozzle proves is that the Mid-Island Compassion Club needs
resources so it can operate more legitimately like the long-standing
and respected Vancouver Island Compassion Society (Victoria) and the
BCCCS (Vancouver).

As a nurse, I cannot say enough about the professionalism of these
organizations and the tremendous service they provide to the
community. It's a fact: they reduce their patients' use of our
over-burdened health-care system, and that's something to think about.

Also, I wouldn't put my professional reputation on the line unless I
wholeheartedly supported such a venture.

So let's get with the program, people!

Liz Stonard

Coombs