cannabisnews.com: Cannabis Compassion Club Surfaces! Cannabis Compassion Club Surfaces! Posted by FoM on June 18, 1999 at 07:01:31 PT Source: Nelson Daily News Signs of leniency from the federal government regarding the use of marijuana for medical purposes has brought a Heritage City group out from the underground. The Nelson Cannabis Compassion Club started two years ago with help from Holy Smoke Culture partner Dustin Sunflower Cantwell. With the federal government currently looking into the use of the illegal drug for helping certain ailments, the club has decided to go public and are holding a potluck and information night on Monday."When we opened up the culture shop, people with medical necessity came to the store and asked about cannabis for medicinal purposes because we were in the cannabis light and we knew about it," Cantwell told the Daily News. "More and more people started coming in, from elderly people to people with all kinds of ailments, so we had to set something up for being able to give people medical cannabis."Next week federal Health Minister Allan Rock is expected to announce details of clinical trials on the medical use of marijuana which has already been approved in Ottawa. In the past year there has also been two private member bills brought before the House of Commons - one by the Bloq Quebecois, and one by the Reform Party - to decriminalize marijuana which would mean fines for small amounts instead of criminal records.Currently the B.C. Compassion Club Society operates out of Vancouver and has 700 members using pot for pain according to Cantwell. Locally, he says there are about six people who he has provided marijuana for ailments such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and chronic pain."People who are sick, I provide cannabis for them," Cantwell said. "If I felt I was doing something wrong I would not say that [publically]."Cantwell said the purpose of the Monday meeting is to provide information and "brainstorm" about better ways to operate the club.''We need to get a separate entity from Holy Smoke because it confuses the issue of recreational and medicinal, it gets mixed up," Cantwell said. "We're not trying to ride the legalization thing on the back of medical cannabis users, it should be run by the people who are using this for medical purposes."Modeling the Nelson club after the B.C. Compassion Club in Vancouver, what Cantwell would like to see is a house set up for people to use the cannabis in a comfortable setting which would provide a clinical-type system for distributing the drug.Even though the federal government is showing signs of loosening-up the marijuana laws, Nelson City Police said currently the law states that all use is illegal."If Mr. Cantwell says that he is supplying people with cannabis, whether he is selling it or giving it away, under the controlled drugs and substances act that makes him a drug trafficker," said Sgt. Dan Maluta. "Accordingly so, he can be charged with trafficking and if he wants to run that risk it's up to him."Just as concerning, Maluta said, by distributing a "pain reliever" Cantwell is overstepping his bounds."Mr. Cantwell is not a doctor therefore I think he's taking a great risk administering these substances to people," Maluta said.The club does ask for a medical history and asks members to sign release forms and provide some sort of documentation to prove their illness. Cantwell said he's not pretending to be a doctor and adds that's not the point.."I have no medical training whatsoever, but it's not up to me, it's up the people who are sick," he said. "If they come in and tell me that cannabis relieves pain that's their self-diagnosis. A person who is dying does not need a diagnosis from a doctor to say 'yes he's feeling better.' They feel it within themselves."Cantwell said he is not overly concerned about what sort of action the police might decided to take."I can't say what the cops are going to do, but at the same time this has to be done" he said.The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at below the Nelson Library on Stanley Street.An Invitation To Attend:I am sending you a invitation to party, June 19th, 4:20 til dawn.At the old Ymir mine, follow the signs from the store.all proceeds to go to the,"Nelson Cannabis Compassion Club".$5.00 cdn donation, lots of music, bring camping gear....Thanks Hempity For This Great Report! END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by andrew on April 20, 2001 at 11:21:38 PT: compassion club in ottawa? I have a brother who is sick with Hodgkins Lymphoma and is being treated with chemotherapy. As a side-effect, he loses his appetite. We have found that marijuana increases his appetite and was wondering if there is a compassion club in ottawa that could supply it. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: