Pot 'Club' Had Police OK, Court Told

SmokeDog420

New Member
For years Ted Smith has sold medical marijuana to sick people with the full knowledge -- and even advice -- of Victoria police, provincial court heard Wednesday. "The police department had been aware of our operation for years," Smith testified.
"We've had police officers actually refer people to our club." Smith, 34, and Colby Budda, 30, are on trial for possession for the purpose of trafficking. The charges stem from a Jan. 3, 2002, police search of a downtown storefront operation, then known as Ted's Books, on Johnson Street.

It was where Smith operated what he testified is commonly known as a "compassion club," selling marijuana to people with chronic illnesses.

Testifying in his own defence, Smith told provincial court Judge Loretta Chaperon he began in 1995 to personally distribute marijuana for use as medicine to people suffering from illnesses such as AIDS and cancer.

Smith said he sees distribution of the controlled substance to sick people as a civic duty. "I grew up with the idea that we have, as a society and as individuals, a requirement to protect the most vulnerable people in our society."

He has always been a vocal and public advocate for medical marijuana, speaking at City Hall, holding press conferences



Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Author: Richard Watts, Times Colonist
Published: Thursday, May 27, 2004
Copyright: 2004 Times Colonist
Contact: letters@tc.canwest.com
Website: Canada.Com
 
Back
Top Bottom