cannabisnews.com: Jobs of The New Millennium Jobs of The New Millennium Posted by FoM on January 23, 2002 at 10:44:45 PT By Anh Hoang Source: Monday Magazine Name: Ted Smith Occupation: Medicinal marijuana seller-advocate Employed by: The Cannabis Buyers’ Clubs (CBC) of Canada, where he serves as the coordinator. The head office is located at the back of Ted’s Books, at 826 Johnson Street. Started six years ago, it is the oldest such club in the country and boasts more than 800 members. It sells marijuana for medicinal use. Background: Smith, 32, has a philosophy degree from Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, and has published eight books ranging from novels to poetry. A long-time recreational marijuana smoker, Smith became involved with the Hempology 101 society in Vancouver seven years ago. He quickly became an advocate for medicinal marijuana after meeting some AIDS patients and seeing how the drug eased their illness. Who needs his services: People who use marijuana for relief from health problems ranging from hepatitis C and AIDS to chronic pain. To get a membership card, people must provide a doctor’s note detailing their ailments.Legal status: On January 3, seven pounds of marijuana was seized from the club, after a complaint from a former member, whom Smith had cut off. “When the police came in here they saw some marijuana on the table,” says Smith, pointing to a desk that could be easily seen from the front entrance. The marijuana is usually confined to a back room in the store. No charges have been laid, but Smith expects he will be charged with possession and trafficking. “I could be thrown into jail right now. If they charge me this time, it will be a total of four trafficking charges for me,” says Smith, who is still awaiting courts dates for his previous charges. Cost of doing business: The seizure, the club’s first, set it back about $8,000. Growth potential: There is only one federal government-licensed distributor of medicinal marijuana, in Manitoba, and about 18 unlicensed clubs across Canada. “We’re not getting any kind of regulations from Health Canada on how to run the clubs,” says Smith. “They’re not allowing us to have licenses.” Business strategy: Smith wants Health Canada to offer wider distribution of medicinal marijuana to patients, or to license clubs like his. “Health Canada has given hundreds of people the legal right to possess and grow cannabis for medical purposes,” says Smith. “[But] they have not given a gram or seed to a sick person yet.” A lack of cannabis distributors have forced patients to buy marijuana on the streets or go to clubs like the CBC. “There’s no legal source to get it,” says Smith. “There’s nowhere for you to get it. People who need it have been forced to break the law to get it even though they’re allowed to have it.” Long-range planning: “The club’s goal is to have the government put us out of business. They should be the ones providing this to people who need it.” Professional expertise: “B.C. has the best medicinal marijuana in the world; there’s no pesticide . . . I’ve had people who fly here from Hawaii to buy it.”Source: Monday Magazine (CN BC)Author: Anh HoangPublished: Issue 3 Vol 28, January 17 - 23, 2002 Copyright: 2002 Monday PublicationsContact: editorial monday.comWebsite: http://www.monday.com/Related Articles & Web Site:FTE's Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmMarijuana Advocate Wants Pot Passed Aroundhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11764.shtmlPot Advocates Diss Official Gov't Weedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11740.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on January 24, 2002 at 11:14:59 PT To quote Michelle Kubby... "If you don't like marijuana, then you're not going to like the future!" [ Post Comment ] Post Comment