What COULD A MEDICAL
CANNABIS COMMUNITY
BASED INDUSTRY LOOK LIKE?
Assumptions
- Cannabis is
used as medicine for HIV/AIDS, Multiple
Sclerosis, Depression, PMS, Cancer, Arthritis, Alzheimer’s
and other illnesses.
- People With
AIDS (PWA’S) and other medical Cannabis
users overwhelmingly depend on the Street Market for Cannabis (over
85%).
- Stigma and
criminalization keep Cannabis at a high
cost as Street Market values are for profit.
- Stigma and
criminalization have prevented research
even though many medical users attribute Cannabis to being highly
beneficial,
enhancing quality of life, in surviving with their illnesses. Could Cannabis be the penicillin of this
century? Dr. Lester Grinspoon, Harvard Psychiatry, coined this term in
the
early 90’s. When it is restored to its rightful place in the
pharmacy, it will
likely be the least toxic item there.
- Stigma and
criminalization prohibit the process of
moving forward on decriminalization of Cannabis in Canada, even though
most
Canadians are in agreement that it should be decriminalized. This
benefits the Street Market.
- The Federal
Government’s Medical Marijuana Program
has been an abysmal failure in providing medical Cannabis access; by
not
educating the public and police, fears and stigma have been increased,
instead
of reduced. There have been reports of police harassment and very few
medical
users have sought exemptions. Cannabis users have negative assessments
of the
Federal Medical Marijuana, as it is grown in a mine shaft, could have
toxic
material and is not organic.
- Cannabis is
still too costly for most people who
use it as medicine and people do not want to be seen engaging in
illicit
behaviour.
- PWA’S
and other medical Cannabis users who are
marginalized economically would be interested in jobs in a non-profit
medical
Cannabis industry—as the current Street Market model only
benefits a few.
- All seeking
medical Cannabis want a legitimized
system whereby access is guaranteed and jobs are created with green,
sustainable values. Organic farmers and other rural communities, such
as
Aboriginal communities could also benefit economically.
QUESTIONS:
If Cannabis
exemption clinics
were held to educate and increase numbers of exemptions to grow
Cannabis, and
groups (HIV/AIDS, Harm Reduction, MS, Cancer were then to apply for
licenses
through Health Canada, would it be better to apply via an existing
non-profit,
or create a new non-profit model?
Research is
needed to determine
effectiveness of vaporizers for those who no longer wish to smoke
cannabis and
others who might consider using it as a medicine if it was accessible
in a
vaporized form. Vaporizing is harm reduction.
How can we
breakthrough the
stigma? (media campaigns, political campaigns) Its paralysis on people
is far
greater reaching than realized—it prevents social justice
from happening and
perpetuates criminal and sometimes violent activity.
What
are the
visible and real
barriers to guaranteed access to medical Cannabis (criminalization/ too
close
relations with the US) and what are the invisible barriers (the truth
about
criminalization, (racism and greed) fear of change).
Hemp/cannabis
gobbles up
émissions better than most plants—it is being used
to clean up Chernobyl –in
South Africa the Constitution is being challenged to use confiscated
cannabis
stalks to make cannabrick homes, which are fire proof and water proof.
How can
we make it the environmental solution it deserves to be?
What could a
Medical Cannabis Community Based Agency look like?
What inherent
components do
existing non-profits, ASO’S, have that put them in good stead
for distribution
of medical Cannabis? (counseling/research/trusted by the communities
they have
been serving) What, if any, are the disadvantages?
What types of
jobs could be
created, full and part time, some to replace ODSP, some with ODSP in
mind? How
creative can we be here, using alternative payment methods and
flexibility with
people’s health challenges?
Potential
Pilot and Research Projects:
1.
To
set up ‘ Cannabis exemption clinics’ in ASO’s, Health Centre’s, other
non-profits to increase numbers of exemptions for licenses to grow on
behalf of
a large group of people. In addition to assisting in filling out
government
applications, surveys/focus groups will be done to determine what
barriers and
needs people have seeking medical Cannabis access and what their income
and
employment profiles look like. We can also determine people’s knowledge
of
Cannabis—(what strains they use for what symptoms).
The
outcome of the surveys could recommend integration of a Community Based
Cannabis program into existing non-profits, ASO’s, or to create a new
model. It
could also recommend setting up a provincial/national committee to
manage the
Federal Medical Marijuana Program (the Auditor General has also been
critical
of this program). 2. Variables
on applying for a license to grow on behalf of a large group need
research and
focus groups. Organic farmers, rural medical Cannabis users, rural
Aboriginal
communities could also be surveyed for economic growing initiatives.
The
outcome
of these surveys could require lobbying and political campaigns.
3.
If
access to Cannabis is guaranteed, what is the impact on health? How
does job
creation, diminishing stigma impact on health?
4.
How
does Cannabis affect anti-retrovirals and other treatments?
5.
Vaporizers
should be promoted as a harm reduction to smoking Cannabis? How does
ingestion
this way impact on symptoms?
6.
Cannabis/hemp—its
politics and the environment—if it is grown massively, could it help
meet
environmental targets such as Kyoto? 7.
How does medical Cannabis access reduce har m from drug and alcohol use?
8.
To survey Canadians for their views on creating a Community Based
Cannabis industry from a poverty reduction and green, sustainable
framework.
Related
Project—Media and Education Campaign: COME OUT OF THE
CANNABIS
CLOSET CANADA!
Ideally such a
campaign would
involve testimonials from a range of medical Cannabis users, like a 75
year old
woman who gets a chemo-grapefruit strain from her grandson because two
puffs
will bring down her nausea from chemotherapy better than anything she
has
tried. Representatives from different communities will be part of a
picture
that reflects reality.
Operation—Hemp
for HIV, health, and
sustainability for Africa
ANTI-POVERTY
TOURISM
INITIATIVE
FOR BUILDING
INFRASTRUCTURE
OF HEMP AT
HOUSE OF
HOPE IN UGANDA
Rationale: This is a
logical evolution, extension of eco-tourism, though more
intensely involved. Kenya may have been one of the first eco tourism
initiatives in the 70’s when people were convinced not kill
animals like
giraffes because Europeans would pay to come and see them in their
environment.
Many people are good willed and want the opportunity to do something
more than
just send money or items to Africa. They know Africa’s
problems are significant and complex, but people want more
satisfaction in making a difference. They want to be part of the
transformation
to long term sustainability and hemp holds the key to this possibility.
Many
people want to see Africa, feel its air and earth and connect with its
people
because deep down is an inkling that Africa is the Mother of all of us.
As a part of
the House
of Hope’s long term goal for sustainability, the anti-poverty tourism initiative will
fulfill the following
objectives: - Bring
resources for upgrading supplies, food and medicine and a focus on
hemp.
- Bring
farming equipment, art, music, and school supplies.
- Bring
medical, nutrition and vitamin supplements.
- Bring
skills for short term, and the possibility of doing an internship
longer term. This
will provide an opportunity for students and other professionals
seeking experience
to work in Africa on HIV/AIDS,
anti-poverty, and health
initiatives with women and orphans, to determine if it is a good fit
for the
individual and for the House of Hope.
Internships could be for up to one year for those providing skills in
health
care, education, social justice issues, (HIV/AIDS) women’s
programming, child
care, trauma counseling, research, labour and expertise in the hemp
fields, solar
technology, farming, irrigation, and construction.
It’s
true there are many needs and the reason for focusing
on hemp is because it is easy to grow with water (House of Hope has
major river
on the property that needs irrigating on 100 acres). Hemp is likely the
most
nutritious seed in the plant kingdom with its 3 essentially fatty acids
and
complete perfect protein. Food, fibre and oil products can be made from
this
amazing plant. It grows like a weed with little or no pesticides
required.
- For
those who have always dreamed of Africa and its
animals, and who are affected by the struggles
for social justice and want to see an end to poverty, than this venture
is a
great opportunity to do something deeply meaningful on a two-week or
month trip.
- For
those who want to envision with the orphans their strength, leadership
and hope
for the future of Africa.
- For
those who want to help bring an end to poverty.
- It
would be the goal that such a trip would create long lasting bonds and
that
when anti-poverty tourists return to their regular lives and
responsibilities, they
shall feel compelled to continue to be involved in raising funds for
farm
equipment, irrigation, and developing a hemp industry for its nutrition
and
sustainability. Or, perhaps they would be interested in raising funds
to send
playground equipment, nutritional and naturopathic supplements,
computers,
musical instruments, books and clothing. Medical supplies also need to
be sent
on a regular basis.
- This
trip will be packaged to include airfare, a day’s driving
trip from the
airport, and orphan meals for two weeks. Yes, you will eat, break beans
and
rice, and very little or no bread, with the orphans, and you will very
likely
lose weight. Anti-poverty tourists will be expected to bring their
sleeping
bags and tents, and bring supplies, including nutritional supplements.
They
will be expected to work in the fields, work with the women and
children, in
the kitchen, in the laundry, with sick little ones.
- There
would also be 3 day trips organized for hiking along the river, and
into the
beautiful mists to meet the guerillas Diana Fossey fell in love with,
or a day
trip to see lions lounging on a range. Winston Churchill called Uganda the
‘Pearl’ of Africa. It has the
highest mountain
ranges next to Kilimanjaro. It is lush and bountiful of animals and
friendly
people.
- Anti-poverty
tourists will share resources and skills, and the orphans will share
their survival
and heroism, and this sharing will bring benefits to both. There is
much
healing to be done from poverty, HIV/AIDS, and war trauma. There is
also joy to
be shared.
- In
addition, anti-poverty tourists are expected to get their medical
check-ups, shots,
and bring nutritious supplements and other items. All come with full
hands and full
luggage of necessary items.
- Charitable
status is provided for receipts needed.
- To
begin with, groups will only be 4 to 6 people and will depart from Toronto. The first
window for an
opportunity to go would be from January 15th
2007 to March 1st,
2007 and
the next window of opportunity would be April to July 2007 whereby
those who
are interested in staying on could arrange with Edward a summer
placement, work
in exchange for being there.
The hemp
initiatives will begin by focusing on simple hemp
foods, such as hempzels made like a soft pretzel. The flour, oil and
seeds need
to become a part of the daily staple of food for the orphans and all
others.
It’s good as a butter, as a cereal/gruel, or putting seeds on
bread, beans and
rice, etc. The potential for hemp milk must be considered initially,
but it
requires a machine.
Once
irrigation is achieved and much larger scale hemp
growth can occur, initiatives for HIV and women’s programming
will include
making hemp soaps and taking hempzels or other hemp food products to
the market
place.
The fibre part
of the plant could be used to make fuel.
Although equipment will be required, initially, some rudimentary
experimentation
can be done with making fibre fuel and hopefully soaps if vegetable
glycerine
can be obtained, but ideally, the goal would be to eventually make a
hemp
glycerine. There can also be experimentation with the soil to see what
type of
ceramic or cosmetic products could be made, such as a hemp mud. The
goal would
be to get some simple hemp food, soap and cosmetic products to the
market place
and after some successes, make the case for utilization of the fibre on
a much bigger
scale.
Edward
currently has an acre where he farms maize and
millet and the first planting of hemp can go in there, but there are
100
potential acres along the river that needs irrigation and preparation
for
planting. There are also many more acres aligning the property that is
government,
other farmers renting out land, and it is believed that once hemp
proves
itself, it will be grown all over, enabling a much greater economic
opportunity.
ANTI-POVERTY
TOURISM
CHANGE THE
WORLD ON YOUR NEXT HOLIDAY—BY
MAKING HEMP
SUSTAINABILITY A
REALITY IN AFRICA
Contact: Loretta Clark loretta_clark548@hotmail.com
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