On a bone-chilling and soggy November day, the world outside is dismal and dark, however, the world inside the B.C. Compassion Club Society (BCCCS) is cozy and buzzing with activity. Three phone lines are ringing, a crowd is waiting, discussing today’s strains, and the distribution staff are busily filling orders. The smoking lounge is providing a refuge from the severe weather and an escape from the harsh, cold realities of the outside world. The hot topics of conversation today are musing over Health Canada’s most recent sordid attempt to derail the federal medical marijuana program, and the fact that a majority of the members of the BCCCS are in the process of having their disability status and benefits re-evaluated due to the intended cuts by the provincial Liberals. This means that most of our community is living in fear of having a portion of their meager incomes stolen away by the provincial government. Already some folks have had their incomes and other support services - such as home care - cut or drastically reduced. We have learned of one person in our community taking their own life, due to the insurmountable pressure being added into their already

difficult lives. Poverty is continually one of the most difficult and prevalent issues for those living with illness, and now our ignorant and uncaring provincial government has made mere survival a challenge. We (BCCCS) are responding to these attempts to punish some of the most marginalized members of our society by increasing dedication to lowering the prices of the cannabis available on our menu, and through increasing access to our Wellness Center.

The recent slashes to services available through the Healthcare System have tremendously increased the demand on our practitioners. The BCCCS has been proving free and low-cost alternative and complimentary natural healthcare, through our Wellness Center, to our membership and community. We offer access to 2 Clinical Herbalists, 2 Clinical Counselors, a Nutritional Counselor, 2 Doctors of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a Reiki practitioner, an Acupressure Massage Therapist and a Yoga program. These services are subsidized by the distribution of the cannabis. Members of the BCCCS are charged on a sliding scale of $3 - 30 for Wellness Center services, and members of the community are charged on a sliding scale of $25 - $50. Those who have more, pay more, those who have less, pay less. Through our Wellness Center we encourage the wholistic use of cannabis, one of many medicinal herbs, as we recognize that cannabis is not a cure in most cases, but is a preventative medicine, provides symptom relief and improves the quality of life. The provision of natural healthcare through our Wellness Center to our community, members and staff prevent many doctor and emergency room visits, saving the healthcare system precious dollars.

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