cannabisnews.com: Medicinal Pot Centre Planned in Ottawa Medicinal Pot Centre Planned in Ottawa Posted by CN Staff on July 10, 2003 at 08:49:07 PT By CBC News Online Staff Source: CBC Ottawa - A group in Ottawa wants to make it easier for sick people to get access to pot. Right now, it arranges for pot deliveries by phone. But it wants to set up a centre dedicated to medicinal marijuana users. Stan Sambey is the person people in Ottawa call when they need marijuana for their medical condition. Sambey heads the Nation's Capital Compassion Society. He provides members with marijuana after putting them through what he calls a "rigid application process." "They bring the paperwork to us and we call the physician's office, and double verify the information, so that we can confirm that the individual has an ailment that we know cannabis has an effect with," Sambey says.Sambey has applied to the federal government to get not-for-profit status, and he's looking for a place in Ottawa to set up shop. Several "compassion societies" have sprung up across the country. What they do is still illegal. But police forces and the courts have allowed them to continue operating. Russell Barth is trying to help Sambey get the centre started. He suffers from fibromyalgia and smokes to ease the pain that comes with the illness."I can't take regular pills anymore. I can't take morphine or codeine or Tylenol," Barth says. Barth has published a children's book about medicinal marijuana to make it easier for families to talk about it. He says part of the book's sales will go towards the Nation's Capital Compassion Society. Organizers hopes the centre will be open by the end of this year. Backgrounder: Pot and Politics: Canada and the Marijuana Debate: http://archives.cbc.ca/300c.asp?IDCat=69&IDDos=652&IDLan=1&IDMenu Source: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Published: July 10, 2003Copyright: 2003 CBCContact: letters cbc.ca Website: http://www.cbc.ca/Related Articles & Web Site:Canadians for Safe Accesshttp://www.safeaccess.ca/Patients Seek Relief On Price of Medical Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16813.shtmlProtesters Slam Move To Sell Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16812.shtmlCanada To Supply Marijuana To Seriously Ill http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16809.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by FoM on July 10, 2003 at 11:19:25 PT Kegan That's not a hothead in my book but a dedicated activist that cares about issues. Keep up the good work! [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Kegan on July 10, 2003 at 11:00:40 PT Hothead You'd think differently if you saw me in public.... gobbing on SUV's, screaming at people from my wheelchair on the streets of Ottawa,....to stop talking on the phone while they drive, to stop riding their bikes on the sidewalk....The hardest part is, you talk to Joe Public, and he is so baddly un-informed, and mis-informed.I feel like I am living in a Hieronymus Bosch painting. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on July 10, 2003 at 10:46:43 PT Kegan Thank you! You're one of our celebrities! You don't seem like a fiery hot head to me!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Kegan on July 10, 2003 at 10:43:00 PT The Official Kegan My real name is Russell Barth. Kegan is the nom-de-plume on most of my artwork, and un-official nickname online.It is a Celtic name, meaning fiery/hotheaded.Perfect for me. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on July 10, 2003 at 09:35:47 PT Kegan These days I get confused easily so I'll just ask you this. Are you Russell? [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Kegan on July 10, 2003 at 09:15:07 PT Russell----- Kegan 3 actually. Globe and Mail misquoted the CONTEXT, but they did well.It isn't about me or Marc or who ever gets in. There are a LOT of people who need weed in Ottawa, and we are gonna fix the situation. All I care about is that WE get press. The CAUSE.Since the government can't make things right, the citizens have to. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on July 10, 2003 at 08:51:52 PT Go Russell! Sir, my hat is off to you - being in two stories in two days, you're getting more press than Marc Emery! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment