ACTIVIST PUSHES BENEFITS OF MEDICAL POT

Julie Skulski marched in 1975 for the decriminalization of marijuana, and
on Monday, the 68-year-old woman was still advocating that pot be legalized.

She was among the handful of people who looked older than 20 at a downtown
rally where ``green'' cookies were handed out in honour of International
Medical Marijuana Day.

``I smoke and my friends all smoke,'' said Skulski, who looks like a story
book vision of a rosy-cheeked grandmother.

Ted Smith handed out the 101 cookies -- lumpy brown pucks with chocolate
chips and, he said, about a half pound of marijuana in total -- at a noon
rally outside the Victoria public library. He is pushing for more
acceptance of pot's medicinal uses to alleviate pain and help treat people
with long term illnesses.

``The need for medical marijuana is enormous,'' said Smith. Recent
initiatives by Health Canada for the medical use of marijuana should be
speeded up and broadened, he said.

So far, Health Canada has granted exemptions to 16 people who use marijuana
for medicinal purposes. The 16, from across Canada, can possess and grow
marijuana without being prosecuted. It is still illegal, however, to buy
marijuana on the street.

The fear of being caught buying on the street is something Don Tyson faces
every month. The 40-year-old Victoria man said he smokes at least two
joints a week to relieve stress that, left on its own, triggers epileptic
fits.

With regular marijuana use, seizures that used to happen three to four
times a week have been dramatically reduced. Tyson said his last seizure
was in February.

Tyson wouldn't take a cookie, though, saying that too many of the people at
the rally seemed simply to be there for a free high, not to learn about how
it can help people who are ill.

``I'm just here to show support for the medical use of marijuana,'' Tyson
said.

A few attending candidly admitted they were there to pick up a cookie.
Nathan Kopichanski said he smokes pot regularly because drinking alcohol
turns him into a jerk. Another man said he's on the methadone program, and
that marijuana helps keep him from returning to heroin.

Smith agreed that he may have been preaching to the converted at the rally,
but said even if someone takes a bit of new information home about the
medical use of marijuana, that's a success.

``It's all education,'' he said. ``That's why we're outside the library.''

One girl took two cookies: one for herself, and the other to take home to
her mother, who has chronic pain from fibromyalgia.

Brian Barber attended to get information on how a caregiver can legally buy
marijuana. His father is terminally ill, and morphine does nothing to help
his pain.

Barber didn't take a cookie, but did take a pamphlet on the Vancouver
Island Cannabis Buyers Club, which supplies marijuana to people with
incurable medical conditions.

Barber is in a position many caregivers and family members find themselves
when trying to offer solace for loved ones who are ill.

``It seems to be one of the only viable options, but there are no
legitimate sources,'' said Barber, who won't buy it on the street.

It is even illegal for the caregivers of the 16 people exempted by Health
Canada to possess marijuana.

``Currently, there is no licit source in Canada. That is one of the issues
that is under consideration,'' said Reva Berman, spokeswoman for Health
Canada.

Health Canada is also funding scientific studies into the medicinal use of
marijuana. The studies start in the new year.

A uniformed Victoria city police officer was at the rally, because police
had received a complaint. Charges are not anticipated. Media liaison
officer Mike Yeager was also there. Both left after the cookies were handed
out.