David Shea
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- Category: David Shea
- Created on Thursday, 12 January 2012 14:38
- Last Updated on Thursday, 12 January 2012 16:17
- Published on Thursday, 12 January 2012 14:38
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My name is David Shea.
Though I have a pretty big ego there really isn't anything special about me.
I grew up in a town small enough that I was the new kid from grade 4 through to grade 10. It was the most difficult period of my life. My favorite class in High School was band where I played a few percussion instruments but most of the time I played the glockenspiel (perhaps just one more reason to be picked on). I think it is those first experiences that make me as resilient as I am today.
After High School I joined the Canadian Armed Forces Infantry Reserve 2 Royal Newfoundland Regiment. I excelled and after 6 years I had made it to the rank of Master Corporal.
Then one day during exercise for the Reconnaissance course my body failed me. It was a spring morning about 10 degrees Celsius and we were running when I was unable to get enough breath. My hands turned purple and I physically was unable to complete the physical training.
Later I found out I had an autoimmune disease called Scleroderma which affects organs (which is basically every part of my body).
I tried my hand at accounting and I.T. I even worked as a life insurance agent for some time but in the end I found myself unable to go to work let alone be productive while I was there. Household chores and stairs were out of my reach. But something changed
Medical Cannabis that's what. Everyday I use medical cannabis I feel stronger. I am still not back to my military weight but I am getting there. It took me two years to become a medical cannabis exemptee and the process has been exhausting but I do owe a lot to Maritimers Unite for Medical Marijuana Society, a non profit group in Nova Scotia. I was amazed at how many individuals I met in that group that went through (more or less) the same things I did.
It is during this time (2009) that I start to become an activist. One of my distinguishing attributes as a medical cannabis activist is that I try as hard as I can to do everything by the books (unless otherwise would be detrimental to my health). I have many accomplishments of which I am very proud of.
Now adays I feel confident to say that I am a medical cannabis expert in regards to legal medical cannabis. In fact I believe I am one of the top experts in Canada (I know... big ego right... but I told you that in the beginning).
Accomplishments I am most proud of.
- Lifted a ban on public medical cannabis events in Halifax
- Wrote a Brief for Bill C-10
- Garnered journalist credentials so I could record court proceedings
- Raised over $500 dollars in funds to help patients go to Ottawa to protest the medical cannabis program
- Instrumental in preparing a patient kit that is used by Maritimers Unite for Medical Marijuana Society
- Learned from scratch how to write php and administer databases
- Made this site with the skills I have recently acquired
- Hosted Newfoundland's first medical cannabis education session for doctors, police, and patients.
Things I hope to accomplish in the near future
- Start a non profit charity for the benefit of cannabis patients
- Start a non profit association of patients
- Get a section 56 exemption for cannabis preparations
- Be a witness at the Senate for bill C-10
- Create a network of activists
- Change Nova Scotia Department of Health policies so hospital staff can administer cannabis to patients in the hospital.
- Change Nova Scotia Department of Health policies so medical cannabis is considered for pharmacare
- Launch a charter challenge as a plaintiff (not a defendant)