WOMEN AND WEED LOSE

The Budget Axe

The Conservatives were wielding the budget axe yesterday and it came
down on medicinal marijuana research and department for the Status of Women.

The $1 billion in federal funding cuts were announced at the same
time the government reported a $13.2 billion surplus in the last fiscal year.

"They never really viewed the work of grassroots women's
organizations as real work," said B.C. Coalition of Women's Centres
spokeswoman Debra Critchley of the $5 million cut to the Status of
Women. "At the end of the day really what it does is facilitate
silencing women."

As a medicinal marijuana user, researcher and advocate with the
Vancouver Island Compassion Society, Philippe Lucas said axing the
national research fund is more symbolic than practical.

He explained funding hasn't been accessible since 2004.

"We've got non-profit organizations putting forward the majority of
the funding for medical marijuana as it is anyways," he said,
expressing concern about the future of Canada's medical marijuana
production facility.