HERBAL RELIEF SOUGHT

Local Medicinal Marijuana Boosters Tout Compassion Club

It's called a compassion club and it promises to deliver medicinal
marijuana to people suffering from serious illnesses.

"We want to treat people with a natural plant, an herb, instead of all
those hard prescription drugs," said Geoff Hughes, spokesman for the newly
formed Manitoba Compassion Club. "There's so many people that can be helped
by it."

The club would be run by long-time activist Chris Buors, who ran under the
Marijuana Party banner during the last federal election and organizes
annual marijuana legalization rallies.

There are more than 10 compassion clubs in Canada, in cities such as
Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.

Anyone applying to join the clubs must have illnesses which are believed to
respond to marijuana treatment -- such as AIDS, multiple sclerosis,
colitis, cancer, severe arthritis and epilepsy -- and must allow their
doctor to confirm their medical conditions.

Ottawa enacted legislation this year allowing people suffering from extreme
medical conditions to possess and smoke marijuana. But activists say the
law comes with too much red tape and creates unnecessary delays for people
who need help quickly, Hughes said.

Initially, marijuana would be purchased from street suppliers and
volunteers until the group is established enough to grow its own and sell
it for half the street price, Hughes said.

Not for recreational purposes

Potential members would be interviewed, sign contracts saying the drugs are
not for recreational purposes and provide their doctor's name and number.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba and the Canadian Medical
Association don't support the government's new marijuana laws because of
concerns about long-term health effects of marijuana and confusion over how
doctors might prescribe cannabis, said College Registrar Dr. Bill Pope,

"I would think there would be very few physicians who would be able or who
would be prepared to be of assistance or be involved in this sort of
organization," he said.

Marijuana doesn't work for everybody, but people suffering from crippling
diseases need to know there is an alternative to conventional medicine,
said Chad, acting director of The Vancouver Island Compassion Society in
Victoria, who didn't want his last name used. He said the club's 200
members have all been referred by their doctors.

"The medical community out here is aware we're the source of the cleanest
organic source of medicinal quality cannabis," he said.

Buors will hold membership drives Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in
front of the Law Courts at 408 York Ave., the day drug offences are on the
court docket.