Pubdate: Sat, 13 Apr 2002
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Jeff Bell
Cited: http://www.thevics.com/ (Vancouver Island Compassion Society)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada)

COURT URGED TO DISCHARGE MEDICAL POT PURVEYOR

Providing medical marijuana to sick people should not leave Philippe Lucas 
with a criminal record, his lawyer said Friday in Victoria provincial court.

John Conroy called for an absolute discharge for the 32-year-old Lucas, who 
began distributing marijuana through the non-profit Vancouver Island 
Compassion Society in the fall of 1999. The court heard that Lucas 
discovered therapeutic qualities in marijuana after being diagnosed with 
hepatitis C in 1996.

Lucas said he likely contracted chronic liver condition from a blood 
transfusion during an operation in the early 1980s. Using marijuana helped 
him deal with his illness, he said at his sentencing hearing before Judge 
Robert Higinbotham.

"There was no doubt in my mind that this truly was a medicine," he said to 
a gallery packed with supporters. He said he had a federal permit for 
personal use of medical marijuana, but that such permits can be hard to obtain.

Finding a source of medical marijuana can also be difficult, he said.

Ronald Ranger, one of the 230 members of the Vancouver Island Compassion 
Society, testified that medical marijuana obtained through the group helped 
reverse blindness caused by glaucoma and other eye ailments. Using 
marijuana relieves damaging pressure on his eyes, he explained.

Ranger said he relies on the society for his marijuana and that he had been 
mugged in his few attempts to obtain it on the street. Without the society 
"I'd have to stop using cannabis, and I'd go blind again," he said.

Lucas pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana for the purpose of 
trafficking in January. He had been charged with drug offences in November, 
2000, following a break-in at the society's offices, then located in Oak Bay.

Marijuana stolen in the break-in was recovered by Oak Bay police. Lucas was 
charged after identifying the marijuana as belonging to the society.

Crown counsel  Lori McMorran said Lucas deserves a fine and a period of 
probation for has actions with the society.

"Trafficking is a serious offence," she said, adding that records show 
Lucas has continued to be active with the group.

Despite any "philosophical cloak" that may be used to describe the concept 
of the society, "what he was doing was illegal and contrary to the 
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act," McMorran said.

She pointed out that the application to establish the society's offices in 
Oak Bay made no mention of marijuana. Lucas responded that the mention 
wasn't left out to be deceitful, it was done "because it was clear the city 
would have turned down the application under the circumstances."

He said he was recently re-elected a member of the compassion society's 
board and intends to keep working there.

"Until Health Canada can find a cure for all of our members ...I'll 
continue to do what I can to help out."

Higinbotham will issue a sentencing decision at a later date.
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