The Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club’s years-long fight for survival, featuring Ted Smith

The Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club’s years-long fight for survival, featuring Ted Smith

Author: Cannabis Radio May 14, 2026 Duration: 30:47

In 1996, Ted Smith founded the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club, Canada’s oldest compassion club. He is also the author of Hempology 101: The History and Uses of Cannabis Sativa (2012), developed from a free, non-credit lecture series he taught at the University of Victoria. From 2009 to 2016, he published the Cannabis Digest newspaper nationwide.

Between 2002 and 2003, the VCBC was raided four times and successfully beat every charge. In 2009, the club’s bakery was raided, leading to a unanimous Supreme Court of Canada decision that legalized cannabis extracts and edibles for patients.

Despite cannabis legalization in 2018, the club has been raided four more times and continues to face ongoing enforcement. Vivian and Ted discuss the fight to keep the club alive amid sustained government pressure.



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Each week on Hempresent, Vivian McPeak-widely known as the Hemposapien and the founder of Seattle Hempfest-creates a space where conversation about cannabis is rooted in substance and history, not just headlines. This isn't a series of monologues; it's a dynamic exchange, a platform where guests and the community itself can engage deeply with the plant's complex journey. You'll hear discussions that trace the legal, activist, and reformist pathways shaping cannabis and hemp today, moving beyond simple celebration to examine the real work being done. Produced by Cannabis Radio, the podcast delves into how these issues intersect with broader societal and cultural currents, from law and policy to art and agriculture. The tone is informed and passionate, reflecting decades of advocacy. Tune in for a weekly dose of perspective that challenges stereotypes and explores the multifaceted role of cannabis in our world, all guided by a voice that has been part of the movement's foundation. It's about presenting the full story, with all its challenges and possibilities.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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