Jennifer Pixie Takes Time 4 Hemp
A Medical Cannabis Activist With Artistic Flare
Written by Casper Leitch
Jennifer Pixie is a Canadian cannabis educator and consultant who has been active in cannabinoid medicine since before legalization. She is a notable figure in Canada’s medical cannabis movement who has worked in connection with CALM (Cannabis As Living Medicine) since 1996. CALM has a rich and impactful history. Founded in Toronto, CALM was one of Canada’s earliest compassion clubs, providing medical cannabis to patients long before national legalization. It became a lifeline for people living with chronic illnesses like HIV/AIDS, cancer, and epilepsy along with many other medical problems.
CALM operated in a legal gray area for years, and in 2010, it made headlines when Toronto police raided the club, arresting nine people and seizing large quantities of cannabis products - even though many of the patients had medical documentation.
CALM played a pivotal role in shaping the conversation around medical cannabis access in Canada during a time when legal pathways were limited or nonexistent. Operating as one of the country’s earliest compassion clubs in the late 1990s and early 2000s, CALM provided cannabis to patients with serious medical conditions, often with physician support but without formal government approval.
Their influence came through civil disobedience paired with patient advocacy. By openly defying prohibition laws and documenting the therapeutic benefits experienced by their members, CALM helped humanize the issue and spotlight the gaps in Canada’s healthcare and legal systems. This grassroots pressure contributed to the federal government’s eventual creation of the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations (MMAR) in 2001, which was Canada’s first attempt at a legal medical cannabis framework.
CALM’s legal battles, especially the 2010 police raid and subsequent public outcry, further highlighted the disconnect between patient needs and government policy. These events added urgency to the national dialogue and helped push for reforms that culminated in broader legalization efforts, including the Cannabis Act of 2018. In short, CALM didn’t just serve patients, they challenged the system, documented the consequences, and helped lay the groundwork for Canada’s evolving cannabis laws.
