cannabisnews.com: Digibud on the Infobahn Digibud on the Infobahn Posted by CN Staff on February 04, 2003 at 16:20:48 PT By Emma Sobel, The McGill Daily Source: McGill Daily Marijuana home delivery is no longer just for recreational stoners, thanks to the entrepreneurial marijuana advocates in Montreal who have launched -- http://www.marijuanahomedelivery.ca -- a service created for Canadians in need of medicinal marijuana. The site was launched in part by Marc-Boris St-Maurice, the leader of the Marijuana Party of Canada, which advocates the decriminalization of marijuana. St-Maurice is also the director of the Montreal branch of the Compassion Club, a Vancouver-based group that works to provide the chronically-ill with a safe alternative to black-market cannabis. Visitors to -- http://www.marijuanahomedelivery.ca -- can peruse a list of over 150 ailments said to be treatable by medicinal marijuana, including everything from cancer and multiple sclerosis to hiccupping and pinkeye. According to guidelines on the site, applications for marijuana delivery must be accompanied by proof of illness in the form of a doctor's note or a sworn declaration from someone authorized to administer oaths, such as a lawyer or a priest. After the testimony has been verified and the fee, which is slightly higher than the black market price, has been paid, marijuana is guaranteed at the client's doorstep in six to eight weeks. But the question of legality remains. The Compassion Club says probably, doctors say possibly, and Health Canada says absolutely not. The federal government recognizes that medicinal marijuana is currently unavailable to patients, but cannot support an illegal delivery service, according to an information officer for Health Canada, André, who declined to give his last name. "The Ministry of Health is working on its own solution to the problem," he said. "We recognize the need for medicinal marijuana, but we do not support the Compassion Club. What they do is absolutely illegal." But the Marijuana Party argues that those in need of medicinal marijuana are unable to obtain it through legal means, despite the fact that a federal law passed in 1999 permits its use. "The use of therapeutic cannabis has become a question of constitutional rights," reads the marijuana home delivery Web site. "With prohibition, an individual who has been prescribed marijuana for medicinal purposes has no legitimate avenue to seek treatment." St-Maurice said non-governmental providers of medicinal marijuana have clashed with law enforcement officials in the past, citing raids of Compassion Clubs in Ottawa and British Columbia last year in which marijuana was confiscated by authorities. But, he noted, no prosecution ever followed. Norbert Gilmore, a professor of medicine at McGill University and employee at the Centre for Medicine, Ethics and Law, says the Marijuana Party's delivery site will likely enjoy relative freedom of operation until the federal government hammers out its own provisions for medicinal cannabis. "The law right now is a murky mess," Gilmore said. "Because the government can't provide for those in need of medicinal marijuana, even those with exemptions are forced to obtain it illegally. Until other laws get sorted out, no one wants to prosecute." Complete Title: Digibud on the Infobahn: Online Marijuana Delivery Sparks Controversy Source: McGill Daily, The (CN QU Edu)Author: Emma Sobel, The McGill DailyPublished: Issue 29 - January 27, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Mcgill DailyContact: letters mcgilldaily.comWebsite: http://www.mcgilldaily.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Marijuana Party http://www.marijuanaparty.org/Marijuana Home Deliveryhttp://www.marijuanahomedelivery.caCourt Ruling Prompts Pot-Delivery Servicehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15020.shtmlQuebec Judge Calls Halt To Medicinal Pot Trialhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15018.shtmlOne-Click Marijuana Shopping for Sick Canadians http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15017.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Post Comment