cannabisnews.com: Cops May Nip Clinic In The Bud





Cops May Nip Clinic In The Bud
Posted by FoM on October 02, 1999 at 07:40:56 PT
By Eileen Travers
Source: Montreal Gazette
The city's first clinic to sell cannabis to the chronically ill opened yesterday to much media fanfare and local support, but not one bud of marijuana changed hands. 
Instead, the inauguration of the Montreal Compassion Club sparked a prompt reaction from the Montreal Urban Community police and the Quebec College of Physicians. A police team has already launched an investigation for drug-trafficking, said Commander Andre Lapointe, head of the MUC police morality, alcohol and drug squad for north-end Montreal. "Eighty per cent of the marijuana trade in Montreal is controlled by biker gangs," he said. "We have compassion for people who are suffering, but we have a mandate to respect the law." "We'll treat this like any other investigation," Lapointe said. The college of physicians will be asking its board on Wednesday to take a stand on medicinal marijuana use. "We are very sensitive to the issue, and we know doctors are recommending its use now," said a spokesman for the Quebec College of Physicians. "Now it's illegal to even recommend it." It's also illegal to sell or use it. Only two people in Canada have federal exemptions and can use the drug. The club, located a dozen paces from Police Station 38 on Rachel St. E., will go ahead with plans to sell, co-ordinator Louise-Caroline Bergeron said. The club is the first of its kind in Montreal to offer cannabis to patients with chronic pain or those receiving treatment for AIDS or cancer. Smoking marijuana often relieves the side-effects of appetite loss or nausea associated with AIDS treatment and chemotherapy. Bergeron would not name the source or price of the marijuana the club intends to sell. She did say that several patients are in the process of getting the club's approval to buy cannabis. But not yesterday. If it weren't for the CBC, Mario Champagne would not have gotten his marijuana. Champagne has suffered from chronic back pain since a construction-site accident in 1982 and two subsequent operations. He said his doctor recommended marijuana to ease his constant pain. Yesterday, he arrived at the club with his doctor's recommendation, but he left empty-handed. "Supply is not a problem," said club spokesman Caroline Doyer. "Mr. Champagne's forms need to be verified. Once we get running, we'll be offering same-day service." So yesterday Champagne got a ride in a CBC car to his home to treat his back pain by smoking marijuana he bought on the street. Since federal Health Minister Allan Rock's approval of clinical testing for the medicinal use of marijuana, clubs in Toronto and Vancouver have gained widespread support. Bernard Bigras, Bloc Quebecois MP for Rosemont, applauded the new club. "I've visited the Vancouver club, and I want this one to offer the same type of services here," Bigras said, "a non-profit group that offers safe, quality marijuana to people with doctor's recommendations." City councillor Andre Cardinal hopes to approach his colleagues to try to open discussions with the police. "There's always resistance to new ideas," he said. "But this is a good project." That's what Cynthia Henrie said. She owns a hair salon facing the club on a block filed with restaurants, cafes and bars. "We're happy to have them as neighbours," she said. "They'll make less noise than another bar." Her employee Michel Leclerc said his doctor recommended that he smoke marijuana to ease chronic back pain he has had since 1992. "I've taken a lot of drugs like morphine, codeine, for the pain," he said. "They all have much more serious side-effects than smoking a little joint." Saturday 2 October 1999EILEEN TRAVERSThe GazettePot Store Opens Branch In Montreal - 10/01/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3104.shtml
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