CRIMES OF COMPASSION

Phillipe Lucas looks back on 10 years with the Vancouver Island
Compassion Society

No question, marijuana stirs up a lot of controversy for a simple
plant. Advocates on either side of the fence argue about the merits
and evils of pot legalization. However, for many Canadians coping with
serious medical conditions-including cancer, arthritis, MS, epilepsy,
HIV and Hepatitis C-using marijuana is not a lifestyle choice, with
over one million Canadians using marijuana for medical purposes,
according to a national survey conducted by Pricewaterhouse-Coopers
for Health Canada. Yet despite the fact Canada became the first
country in the world to legalize the medical use of marijuana back in
2001, the legislation only protects a handful of patients; the
majority of medical cannabis users still risk arrest and prosecution
for simply using an effective medicine. Community-based dispensaries,
like the Vancouver Island Compassion Society (VICS), play a vital role
in supporting many of these people.

This month VICS celebrates its 10th anniversary. The Cormorant Street
office, tucked between apartment buildings and the looming Ministry of
Health building, resembles a very relaxed medical clinic.

Colourful art, posters and patient notice boards cover the walls; the
waiting room reflects the diversity of VICS clients with a children's
play area, clothing donation box, book swap shelf and racks of
information pamphlets. And, not surprisingly, the air smells of marijuana.

VICS was founded by medical marijuana advocate and now city councillor
Phillipe Lucas, who recently stepped down as the organization's
executive director. Lucas became concerned about access to medical
marijuana after he began using it to ease the symptoms of Hepatitis C.
"Cannabinoids are anti-viral and they reduce inflammation," he says.
"They were certainly addressing some of my symptoms, reducing pain and
nausea and increasing my appetite."

Lucas, who found it difficult to find a consistent cannabis supply,
felt Victoria needed an organization to help patients-like
himself-access a valuable natural medicine. "Some days my dealer had
something that absolutely helped me, some weeks it was something that
would make me anxious . . . I realized that if I, a man in my 20s,
struggled to find a safe source of cannabis, surely a 65-year-old
woman just diagnosed with breast cancer-and with no experience with
cannabis use-would have no chance of finding safe access."

Ineffective federally, essential locally

When Lucas began VICS in 1999, community-based dispensaries provided
the only services available to patients. However, the introduction of
a federal medical marijuana program in 2002 hasn't removed the need
for groups like VICS. According to Health Canada's most recent
statistics, only 4,029 people are authorized to participate in the
program-less than half-a-percent of Canada's medical cannabis users.

"The federal program is highly ineffective," says Lucas. "It has been
found unconstitutional for overly restricting access five times in the
last six or seven years . . . Even in the United States, where they
have taken a much more antagonistic stance against marijuana use, they
are taking more progressive steps to ensure patients get access to
safe sources of cannabis then we are here in Canada."

Though his main focus was access to medical marijuana when Lucas
started VICS, advocacy rapidly became a large part of the
organization's work. For example, Lucas recently spoke at the House of
Commons on behalf of medical marijuana users against Bill C-15, the
Conservative Party's mandatory minimums drug bill. "We advocate for
medical marijuana users who can't or won't speak for themselves
because of exposing their illegal use."

Indeed, VICS' largest effects on policy and legislation have arisen
through court challenges. Most recently, the group won a
constitutional challenge of Health Canada's medical cannabis program
and practice in February 2009. The challenge resulted from a 2004 RCMP
raid of VICS' production facility in Sooke and the arrest of VICS
employee, Matt Beren. VICS and Beren took the case to the B.C. Supreme
Court.

Lawyer Kirk Tousaw, who represented Beren, explains the court's
decision. "Ultimately the judge was forced to convict Beren, but said
he was not morally blameworthy granting him an absolute discharge . .
. We were successful in convincing the judge that two restrictions in
their medical marijuana legislation are unconstitutional which sets an
important precedent for other medical marijuana producers."

Both Beren and the Crown have sought appeals with the Supreme Court of
Canada. Tousaw hopes the courts will accept the case which could force
the federal government to revamp their program.

"I just don't think that sick people should be criminals for using
medicine, nor should the producers of the medicine or compassion
centres like VICS who help them safely and securely obtain it," says
Tousaw.

"VICS has been at the forefront of organizations in Canada working to
change the existing systems both through parliament and the courts."

Research equally important

Along with advocacy, VICS has expanded its mandate to include medical
marijuana research. "Health Canada and the medical associations,
particularly the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B..C, have long
stated that there simply isn't enough information to certify cannabis
as a medicine," says Lucas. "Unfortunately neither of those
organizations have been doing the research that needs to be done."

Drawing on the experiences of their members who use cannabis for
medical conditions, VICS has teamed with researchers on studies of the
effects on marijuana on Hepatitis C (with Diana L. Sylvestre, from the
University of California) and on nausea and pregnancy (with Rachel
Westfall, from the University of Victoria). And Lucas is currently a
graduate research fellow with the Centre for Addictions Research,
studying the potential for using cannabis as a treatment for
problematic substance use. "Rather than looking at cannabis as a
gateway drug, we're looking it as an exit drug to get people out of
using," he explains.

Lynne Belle-Isle is a programs consultant for the Canadian AIDS
society who became involved with VICS through a study on barriers to
medical cannabis access for HIV patients.

"Involving the people on whom you are conducting research makes your
results that much more valid," says Belle-Isle about the value of
community-based research. "It's amazing they do it because compassion
societies have their own set of challenges they face because of legality."

Serving almost 1,000 patients, VICS has developed a patient-centered
model which has gained them international recognition over the past
decade. Lucas has advised a number of American states and, in 2007,
was invited to Israel to work on the development of patient-centered
medical cannabis strategies.

"Their program is moving forward at a tremendous rate right now,"
Lucas explains. "They have already licensed three or four producers-so
they're already ahead of Canada, who have only licensed a single
producer in seven years of operation."

VICS also has a significant support from the local medical community.
Over 300 physicians have referred patients to VICS and the
organization has an arrangement with the University of Victoria
Nursing Program, hosting nursing students for 13-week co-op terms.

"It's a great relationship," says Lucas. "You end up with a nurse
that's not only familiar with the many conditions that benefit from
the use of cannabis, but who also brings that knowledge back to his or
her class, educating a much broader spectrum of people in the public
health field."

Rolling into the future

Ten years on the front lines could wear down any social activist, but
Lucas-a new father as well as a city councillor-feels his work with
the Vancouver Island Compassion Society gave him back as much as he
put in to it. "The patients of VICS have impacted my life
tremendously," he says. "They have taught me about courage,
perseverance, determination and overcoming overwhelming odds. Their
incredible struggle to just live their day-to-day lives has been a
real inspiration to me. It's been an amazing opportunity."

For now, Lucas will remain on the VICS board with Steve Roberts
filling the role of executive director. Roberts, who has been involved
with VICS for over eight years, says he looks forward to carrying the
organization forward along the path it has been going. "It's great
that so many people are so accepting of what we do here and are coming
to the realization that cannabis as a medicine is actually a viable
thing," he says.

According to a 2006 poll in Maclean's magazine, 93 percent of
Canadians support the medical use of marijuana-a level of acceptance
that, in no small part, reflects the work of community-based
organizations like VICS. M

Visit thevics.com to find out more about VICS or call 250-381-8427