POT CRUSADER OFF THE HOOK

Victoria - A Victoria marijuana advocate charged with possession for the
purpose of trafficking has been given an absolute discharge in B.C. Supreme
Court.

Lucas says the reasons given by the judge reinforcesthe work he dies
Philippe Lucas, the executive director of the Vancouver Island Compassion
Club, was charged after police raided his club 20 months ago.

He made a deal with the Crown, and pleaded guilty.

On Friday, a B.C. Supreme Court Justice threw out the charge, saying the
Compassion Club is helping those who use marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Lucas says the reasons given by the judge reinforces the work he does at
the Compassion Club.

"He agreed that the Health Canada medical access program is a misnomer," he
says. "That there is nobody right now getting medical marijuana who can
benefit from it. He deemed the actions of the Vancouver Island Compassion
Society were neither harmful to the individuals involved or to society as a
whole."

Lucas hopes the court ruling will send a clear message that medical
marijuana is useful when handled safely. He also hopes it will also serve
as a wake up call to Health Canada to get it's medical marijuana program
back on track to supply the need for the drug.