October 9, 2002 Features Bud Light: a Quick Look at Marijuana Sven Bellamy Features Editor Marijuana was first banned in Canada in 1923 under the Opium and Drug Act. Ever since that leg- islation was passed, opponents have called the penal- ties for possession too harsh. Since May 1997, illicit drugs have been covered by the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, which opponents want scrapped. August 2000 saw the passing of legislation by the Ontario Court of Appeal ruling that banning marijuana for medicinal purposes violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. More recently, in July 2001, Canada became the first country to adopt a system regulating the medicinal use of marijuana. The Canadian Medical Association estimates that 1.5 million Canadians smoke Maarijuana recreation- ally. Obviously those estimat @ynot made a visit to the Canadian West Go yne walking down the street almost af }) Greater Vancouver can unexpectedly e Sweet smell of ganja. However, the deba n al use continues and recent studi what many recreational users known all along. Senator Pierre Claude Nolin has | } of a special Senate Committee on Ill May 2002 the committee presented 4 summarized several important scientific d Namely, marijuana does not lead to hardér¢ fewer than ten percent of marijuana users b addicted, and a lot of money is spent on law e1 C ment, even though public policies don’t discou marijuana use. In September of, a second report, wh harmfal than alcoho™ similar regulations. Mr.. CBC as saying, “Scientifice indicates that cannabis is subs than alcohol and should be treate issue but as a social and public health ‘TSS Some people are not interested in hat fe surrounding marijuana changed, while o marijuana is less 9¢ governed by } the pushing for complete legalization. Those people™ s camped in the middle favour decriminalization. They would like to see the rules stay the same, but have the current penalties lowered from a criminal to civil court, like getting a traffic ticket—no crimi- nal record would be kept. In 1973 the LeDain Commission, a federal com- mission looking into the non-medical use of drugs, called for an end to charges for marijuana possession and cultivation. This was the first big boost to the marijuana liberalization movement. More recently, in May 2001 Progressive Conservative Party leader Joe Clark made a statement to the effect that young people caught with marijuana shouldn't have to carry the stigma of a criminal record for life. Penalties for possession can include a jail term of up to five years. Many groups call this penalty too harsh. Both the NDP and Bloc Quebecois have made statements favouring decriminalization. The Canadian Medical Association backs the position of © page 12 he committee released decriminalization, stating in a CBC editorial that carrying a criminal record effectively bars young people from employment and other opportunities, such as getting into medicalJor law school. The Canadian Association of Glitets @f Police has also advocated decriminalizat Secuting people for small amounts of Pup already stretched resources. There are grou decriminalization. drug associations. Canadian Police 2 statement that criminal records, websites have appear Even Alcoholi help marijuan: division Mar port for decrim survey conducteé Post newspaper of people survey: ing marijuana wa of responde ation. A simila brofessor at fa, claimed with anti- : fe the fact , ada, the Sa m d ee peo pie of less that is nota ments. Applicants can phone ong for authorization from of Cannabis Medical Acce: sesc/ocma/contact_us.htmy also downloadable from . Applicants provide information about themselves, and their medical condition, and indicate if they plan to grow their own supply of marijuana, have someone else grow it for them, or obtain it from a dealer licensed by Health Canada. Applicants must also provide statements from one or more medical specialists stating that conventional treatments have been tried. Health Canada magazine has published a short web-based article which claims, “Advocates of mak- ing marijuana available as a medical treatment argue aut the other press that the drug helps relieve nausea and vomiting related to AIDS and cancer therapies, and is effective in treating other diseases or conditions, including anorexia, chronic pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, arthritis, and migraines.” The evidence for medical benefits of marijuana dates back much further: An article published in Cannabis Culture reads: “Due to its topical anti-bac- terial properties, cannabis has been used to treat a variety of skin diseases such as pruritis, also known as atopic dermatitis, an inflammatory skin disorder. The symptoms of pruritis are severe itching, “and patches of inflamed skin, especially on the hands, face, neck legs, and genitals.”A description that sounds startlingly similar@6 the skin disease described in Leviticus ed tsaraath. It is usu- ally translated in thes ent as leprosy, but has been noted by 4 scholars to be more likely a refere of pruritis rather ase).” Czechoslovakia con- cid, a product of the eriocidal properties.” d that cannabis extracts c acid produced impres- on a number of micro- strains of staphylococcus that other antibiotics. The Czech essfully treated a variety of condi- e ear infections, with cannabis lotions . Topical application of cannabis second- 1992 Press article ‘resin deriva- 0 years old. vidence that 00 years ago’, the said yesterday. Otganic remains of a sub- sh, grasses and fruit on the a teenage female’s skeleton that o the fourth century, the antiquities ority said in a statement. Anthropologist Joel Zias said that although researchers knew hashish had been used as a medicine, this is the first archeologi- cal evidence.” une 2, Another large pro-marijuana movement is the push to develop hemp-based products for the mar- ketplace. Hemp can be manufactured into clothing, oils, paper, rope, and, although expensive when compared to other similar products, with the right timing and marketing has the potential to beat-out other industries. This has been one of the goals of the Marijuana Party and activists such as Marc Emery. Emery started HempBC back in 1994 and has nurtured his activism in cannabis culture to take on the slogan, “overgrow the government.” Perhaps there will not be a quick resolution or acceptance of cannabis culture, but the change is coming—marijuana has a budding future.