ILLICIT DRUG DEBATE HEATS UP

Victoria-based pro-pot activists and even a local Canadian Alliance MP have
been busy, chipping away at the foundation of existing drug laws

The past two weeks have been a busy time for those who want to see the
federal government throw out the existing laws on illicit drugs.

Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca Canadian Alliiance MP Keith Martin succeeded in
getting his private members bill calling for the decriminalization of
marijuana debated in the House of Commons last week. And Ted Smith, a
Greater Victoria-based advocate of getting rid of Canada's current drug
laws, has also been busy promoting his cause.

Smith is the coordinator of the Vancouver Island Cannabis Buyers Club on
Johnson Street in Victoria, which provides marijuana to people for
medicinal purposes.

Smith addressed a federal Senate committee that's examining non-medicinal
drug use in Canada when that committee made a pit-stop in Vancouver
Nov.7. As well, Smith helped organize a "pot cookie demonstration" that
was slated to take place Thursday at noon at the library on Broughton
Street, (after the Weekend Edition's deadline).

"The main goal is to raise awareness about medical marijuana and all the
issues involved," he says.

While Ottawa passed laws earlier this year allowing for the medicinal use
of marijuana, Smith argues Health Canada hasn't been doing a very good job
of making it easy for people who need pot - to better handle symptoms
stemming from various illnesses - to obtain marijuana. He points out that
while some people have been given permission to possess and grow pot for
medicinal purposes, getting their hands on seeds to grow marijuana has been
a problem because there is no "legitimate source" for acquiring seeds.

The demonstration was tied in with International Medical Marijuana Day.
Before hand, Smith said he was hopeful that this time he wouldn't end up
being arrested at the pot cookie demonstration which was planned for yesterday.

"For the last two years I've had some very public pot cookie giveaways - or
I've tried to, last year I was arrested. The year before I got away with
it," says Smith.

He says organizers were also hoping to give away pot cookies to the people
who smoke pot for medicinal reasons later in the afternoon. But Smith
stressed the planned event wouldn't be "as public as in the years past" so
as to avoid conflict with the police.

Smith says his message to the Senate committee amounted to an argument that
Canada should withdraw from the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on
Narcotics, which was essentially the beginning of the U.S.-backed war on drugs.

Arguing the war on drugs has been a failure, he says Canada has an
opportunity to host international forums aimed at promoting harm reduction
models of dealing with drug use.

Adopting a new approach to illicit drug use is a matter that Smith says
must be addressed by many countries.

Smith notes the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) addressed the
committee and argued the war on drugs is causing the spread of such
diseases and other problems associated with the illicit drug trade since
illegal drugs are controlled by criminals instead of a proper regulatory body.

"The war on drugs is basically killing people," he says.

Smith says the presentations that came from groups from East Vancouver
including VANDU were particularly "enlightening".

"The message from East Vancouver was pretty strong and unique," says Smith.

The area that makes up Vancouver's East End has gained a lot of attention
in recent years for its very high number of intravenous drug users and the
consequent spread of hepatitis C and HIV due to addicts exchanging dirty
needles.

The Senate Committee also heard the argument form some of those making
presentations that alcohol is far worse than marijuana in terms of impact
that the two substances have on society, says Smith.