Owen Smith Takes Time 4 Hemp
Host, Casper Leitch, Joint Host’s, Al Byrne, and Al Graham join guest, Owen Smith, to take Time 4 Hemp.
The Sweet Taste Of Victory
In this audio podcast we chat with Owen Smith who has over two decades of dedication to the cannabis industry, He has emerged as one of Canada’s most influential figures in cannabis activism, legal reform, and industry ethics. From his landmark Supreme Court victory to his ongoing work with Cannabis Digest and Ethical Growth Consulting, Smith has played a pivotal role in reshaping the landscape of medical marijuana and cannabis-infused products. His contributions have not only expanded access for patients but have also influenced the evolution of the cannabis industry as a whole.
Smith’s name became widely recognized due to his involvement in a groundbreaking legal case that forever changed Canada’s medical marijuana laws. In 2009, while working as a baker for the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club (VCBC), he was arrested for producing over 200 cannabis-infused cookies. At the time, Canada’s medical marijuana laws only allowed patients to consume dried cannabis, effectively forcing them to smoke it.
Determined to fight for patient rights, Smith and his legal team challenged the law, arguing that patients deserved access to safer and more effective forms of cannabis, including edibles, teas, and cannabis oils. After years of legal battles, the case reached the Supreme Court of Canada, which in 2015 delivered a unanimous ruling in his favor. This historic decision expanded the legal definition of medical marijuana to include non-smokable forms, ensuring that patients had access to a wider range of consumption options without fear of legal repercussions.
