Our journal has primarily focused on the medical and ethical issues surrounding the use of cannabis for almost 4 years. We have seen an evolution; the use of cannabis for medical purposes is now widely accepted by over 90% of the general public. The City of Vancouver in their draft plan "Preventing Harm from Psychoactive Substance Use" and the Health Officers Council of BC in their discussion paper "A Public Health Approach to Drug Control in Canada" have proposed revolutionary drug policy reforms which would include the development of a regulated marijuana industry.

As wonderful as it is to finally see progress in our social ethical evolution, we still, unbelievably, are experiencing a lack of support from the mainstream not-for-profit and for-profit segments of the supposedly "socially or ethically conscious" business communities.

One abstinence-based recovery facility would not even discuss the topic and said; "Our Board of Directors has no comment on current legal issues regarding cannabis". I find this extremely disturbing, how can an addiction recovery facility have no comment about a substance that’s on their list of drugs of abuse? Another high profile Ontario Foundation who is an agency of the Ministry of Culture and receives annually $100 million of government funding through the charity casino initiative, said; "As we are an agency, we do not conduct advocacy activities". Better yet, one boss of a large socially responsible Canadian company stated, "I happen to suffer from severe back pain with muscle spasms. There is only one thing I have found to subdue the pain and relax my muscles. So like I said, I would love to be a part of it, but our board of directors would never go for it". Hypocrisy at it finest!

Not in our budget, too hot an issue, no comment, in my opinion, it is just plain wrong. We founded Cannabis Health with the hope that as the government and the general public's opinion changed so would the rest of the business community. It’s happening on one side but not the other... This journal has become more than just a cannabis magazine it's about caring for people who have no where else to go. We don't advocate drug use of any kind, but believe people should be supported if they personally choose to use cannabis as a harm reduction or health related option. We don’t believe people should be criminalized for using a drug that helps them. It's not their fault that the current drug policies still classify this drug as "illegal" while at the same time the patient takes a suitcase full of pharmaceuticals daily so they can live.

Maybe it's time "we the people" use our voices to put pressure on these "socially or ethically conscious" organizations - names can be released - boycott anyone?

Barb St.Jean