BENTALL PROPERTY OFF-LIMITS TO POT SOCIETY

The B.C. Compassion Club Society's search for a second site to distribute
medicinal marijuana was stymied recently when plans to move into a building
managed by Bentall Real Estate Services fell through.

Hilary Black, the 25-year-old founder and co-director of the society, said
she was working out the details of the lease for the space-Suite 120 1050
West Pender-including matters like whether pot would be stored overnight,
when word came that the deal was off.

Black got the bad news two days after an article appeared in the Courier
outlining Lynda Bentall's plans to organize a conference next year
challenging the country's move towards more permissive drug policies.

Bentall, who opposes medicinal use of marijuana, is married to Robert
Bentall, retired chairman of the Bentall Corporation.

But according to Dave Macadam, an employee of Bentall Real Estate Services
who handles leasing for the site in question, the couple had nothing to do
with the decision. The business is now owned by a large pension fund.

"It was nixed because the pension fund that owns the building did not want
that kind of notoriety attached to the building," Macadam said. "It had
nothing to do with the Courier article or the Bentalls."

Lynda Bentall left for a month-long trip late last week and couldn't be
reached for comment.

Black is disappointed by the decision but says she'd prefer to find a place
that welcomes the group. "We're going to keep looking and we'll find
something perfect. It's crucial for us to have a positive working
relationship with our landlord. We don't have enough energy to spend
battling a landlord."

Black said an overwhelming demand for the society's services prompted the
organization to start looking for a second location, ideally downtown or in
the West End, two months ago.

The first Compassion Club in the city opened in May 1997 and is currently
located at 2995 Commercial Dr. It serves 1,700 members, local and mail
order, with about 1,000 doctors referring patients to the club. About 17
new members are registered each week and the society currently has a
two-month waiting list, although emergency cases are treated more quickly.

"There's an overwhelming demand for our services even though we don't
advertise," Black said. "We need to open [another] distribution centre to
keep up with it. We don't want to wear out our welcome in this
neighbourhood with too many clients."

Before they're accepted to the program, individuals seeking medicinal
marijuana-usually those suffering from maladies like AIDS, cancer or
multiple sclerosis-are sent an information package by the organization
outlining the program. A doctor must approve the treatment in writing, and
is called by a staff member to verify the approval. Once accepted, a
patient must go through a two-hour intake session and any pot they're given
is tracked through a computer system to prevent abuses.

The society distributes about 40 pounds of pot each month, generating its
operational budget mostly through selling the marijuana for $3 to $10 for a
gram. It also charges a $15 yearly membership fee.

Black said she's willing to debate Lynda Bentall about her crusade against
medicinal use of marijuana, and is even willing to offer Bentall a tour of
the Compassion Club. "She's putting forward an agenda that's really hurtful
to sick people. We will protect them-that's what we're here for."