PROFESSOR: JUST CALL ME A POTHEAD - TRINITY GRANTS PROF PERMISSION TO TOKE

University of Toronto professor Doug Hutchinson is taking the idea of
higher learning to a whole new level.

Hutchinson, who has used marijuana in varying amounts for a serious
and chronic health condition for over 10 years, smokes marijuana
openly and legally on campus.

While Hutchinson uses a ventilated smoking room in the basement of
Trinity College, the school's authorities weren't always so
accommodating. So far, the room designated for Hutchinson to smoke
pot is only used by him, although he said he is certain others will
eventually join him.

Last year University of Toronto and Trinity College authorities began
acting on laws and policies to combat marijuana use among students.
When it was discovered Hutchinson smoked on campus, the professor of
philosophy was targeted as well.

Hutchinson was criticized from both a moral and criminal standpoint.
Some questioned the example he set for his students. His
responsibility as a father was questioned too, because he smoked in
front of his two children."I got put down as an irresponsible father
and a poor example to students," Hutchinson said.

After dealing with colleagues, university and college authorities,
lawyers, cease and desist orders, and "wild arguments," the situation
eventually calmed down when Hutchinson moved his pot smoking out of
the closet and into the basement.

"A week ago Monday, when the media began to pick up the story,
administration began to back off," he said. "I haven't heard from them since."

Hutchinson said his marijuana is supplied by compassion clubs, like
Cannabis as Living Medicine and the Toronto Compassion Centre.

Compassion clubs, which provide medical-grade marijuana from
different plants -- all with varying effects, were invented about 15
years ago, Hutchinson said.

"They are a co-operative of dealers organized in different ways
across the country," he said. "They are a group of dealers who deal
to the sick only.

"Widely practised and widely tolerated, they are wonderful,
knowledgeable, and supportive."

Despite Hutchinson's praises of compassion clubs, he acknowledged the
government's views of such programs don't parallel his.

"The government would like to completely get rid of them. They think
it has to be a monopoly distribution of illegal drugs," he said.

Hutchinson described the government's recent cuts to the medical
marijuana research program as "window dressings."

"[Four millon dollars] has no real influence on government
development and research?epidemiological testing is the only true
test," he said.

Western currently has no policies in place for students, staff, or
faculty who would need a location to use medical marijuana, said Tom
MacFarlane, director of Western Health Services.

"There has been tremendous debate about this in the medical
community," MacFarlane said. "It's a very interesting question. If
the issue did come up it would probably be dependent on discussions
between the doctor and patient? the law of the land would apply."