TALKING ABOUT TOKING

Cannabis convention draws businessmen, politicians and the odd hippy

Canabonds, hemp theme parks and government-issue Maui Wowie-these are not
just the products of pothead daydreams anymore. Victoria's fifth annual
Cannabis Convention brought hemp and marijuana advocates together for more
serious things than a 4:20 toke.

The legal battle for the bud, industrial hemp franchisement and expansion of
medicinal marijuana rights topped the agenda for the one-day convention at
Camosun College last Sunday.

At first glance, the 100-person gathering had all the qualities one would
expect at a marijuana-themed convention. Pony-tailed beatniks, marijuana
leaf cutouts, patchouli-scented air and a hippy covering Peter Tosh's
"Legalize It" set the tone while self-conscious college students and the odd
business-type speckled the crowd.

Although the feel was casual, the agenda of the convention targeted future
issues and opportunities emerging if Canada legalizes marijuana. In 2001,
Canada became the first country to legalize medicinal marijuana. The
following year, a Senate committee on illegal drugs recommended general
legalization of cannabis, and last month the federal Liberals introduced
Bill C-10, which would decriminalize possession of small amounts of
marijuana if passed.

Ted Smith, founder of campus club Hempology 101 and the Cannabis Buyer's
club, organized the conference and is already gearing up for legalization.
His Canabonds are $25 certificates promising shareholders a quarter-ounce of
"quality cannabis" once marijuana is made legal. Smith uses funds raised
from the bonds for legal fees and advocacy work.

"This is a movement I am passionate about. I also have a lot at stake and
that drives me to put my self fully into it," said Smith, who has been
arrested four times and battled six trafficking charges.

In the nine years Hempology 101 has been active, Smith said he has seen a
huge increase in acceptance towards marijuana use. Although he is legally
banned from the UVic campus for distributing pot cookies and sharing joints,
Smith stays connected with club organizers.

"People used to be cautious about coming to meetings. But at one point last
year, we were getting 120 people to our meetings, right in the middle of the
campus," said Smith, referring to the club's notorious 4:20 meetings in
front of the UVic library.

"My thing is education about cannabis. Universities and colleges are places
where people are already primed to learn and looking for movements they care
about," said Smith.

Smith said he focuses his activist efforts at universities and colleges
because he knows they are breeding grounds for future community leaders.

One cannabis-friendly community leader is Brian Taylor, editor of Cannabis
Health Magazine, a former mayor of Grand Forks and keynote speaker at the
conference. Taylor has a long history of marijuana advocacy in B.C., in
particular as the leader of the Marijuana Party when they garnered 500,000
votes in the 2001 provincial election and succeeded in running a candidate
in every riding.

"To some people in my hometown I'm a resident hero and to others I'm a damn
embarrassment-worse than naked Doukahbours," said Taylor.

Taylor now focuses his advocacy on medicinal marijuana. A few years ago, his
chest was crushed when a barrel landed on him. He said marijuana relieved
his pain and helped him heal faster.

"My doctors couldn't believe how quickly I improved and how under control my
pain was," said Taylor.

Taylor is convinced that the federal acceptance of medicinal marijuana will
lead to general legalization of the plant. He thinks the government should
contract more growers to provide selection to medicinal marijuana users and
prevent them from the burden, and liability, of growing marijuana
themselves.

"We already have ground on this front. Medicinal marijuana is the door we
need to go through because Health Canada wants to work with us on this,"
said Taylor.

Another speaker at the conference is looking to cash in on the legalization
of marijuana. Brian Johnson, president of Transglobal Hemp Products Corp.,
wants industrial hemp products to become a leading industry on Vancouver
Island.

A former land development consultant, Johnson spent three-and-a-half years
studying ghost towns on Vancouver Island for investors who wanted to buy
abandoned commercial properties.

"I began to see some real opportunities for industrial hemp products,
especially since our forest and fishing industries are falling apart," said
Johnson.

Ten years ago, Johnson delved full-time into his company. Beyond industrial
hemp products such as clothing, food and fuel, Johnson wants to promote
hemp-seed factories as tourist attractions-kind of Hempland theme parks. He
also has a movie script optioned about a young boy's discovery of an antique
hemp seed-processing machine.

"Industrial hemp has limitless possibilities and it is extremely
environmental. I want to make money for Vancouver Island-following the rules
of government, because if cannabis does become legal in the future, we want
them on our side."