MEDICAL MARIJUANA CRUSADER WINS JUDGE'S PRAISE

A Victoria judge has praised a medical marijuana advocate and called for
either Parliament or the Supreme Court to finally resolve legal issues
surrounding medical use of the illegal drug. Provincial Court Judge Robert
Higinbotham granted an absolute discharge to Philippe Lucas, who had
pleaded guilty to possessing about 3 kg of marijuana, saying that he had
"provided that which the government was unable to provide: a safe and high
quality supply of marijuana to those needing it for medicinal purposes."
Lucas runs the Vancouver Island Compassion Society, which
provides marijuana to about 250 members who have been referred by their
doctors.

Higinbotham also lauded Lucas's motives, transparency and meticulous record
keeping in operating the club, a registered nonprofit society that operates
openly, although it does not advertise beyond its Web site. The judge also
cited the measures in place to prevent redistribution of the marijuana by
its members.

Lucas's troubles began when he called police following a burglary at the
Compassion Society. He says the club had enjoyed a good relationship with
the police since it opened in 1999. The thief was caught but Lucas was also
charged.

Since the court decision was announced, Lucas has seen a surge in requests
for information about the club and the doctors supporting him "have been
extremely buoyed by the decision. There are many doctors in Victoria who
would rather send patients to us than go through the legal Health Canada
program, and I think that is very telling." About 80 physicians refer
patients, and the club verifies all referrals.

Most patients have AIDS, cancer or hepatitis.

Lucas, who uses marijuana under a legal exemption because he has hepatitis
C contracted via a blood transfusion, hopes the court decision will spur
federal action.

He also hopes that a Senate special committee on illegal drugs, which he
testified before, will make far-reaching recommendations. "They are
definitely critical of the present drug policy and have some legitimate
concerns about the medical marijuana access program.

I feel [the access program] is the biggest misnomer in Canadian federal
politics."

He says that of 600 patients eligible to receive medical marijuana under
the previous federal program, only 160 have been able to obtain the drug
under the new initiative. "We have people who need access right now and I
really think the medical community hasn't gone far enough in looking at the
established research."

Lucas says doctors need to "use some compassion and common sense.

Even if we use the argument that all the studies aren't in regarding
therapeutic effects of cannabis, we know that, safety-wise, it is more
effective than a large percentage of the drugs that are regularly
prescribed by doctors." He noted that the United Kingdom recently
decriminalized the possession for personal use of under 28&#nbsp;g of
marijuana, a step that was "based on scientific principles."

Lucas is currently working with researchers at several North American
universities. He is also involved in a study at the McGill University pain
centre, which is the first involving all 14 Canadian compassion clubs.