Pubdate: Thu, 04 Jul 2013
Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN)
Copyright: 2013 The StarPhoenix
Contact: http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400
Author: Jim Bronskill

RCMP SAYS CRIMINALS EXPLOIT MEDICAL POT

Health Canada Reacting

OTTAWA - The RCMP says organized criminal networks are taking 
advantage of Canada's medical marijuana program to produce the drug 
and supply it to the illicit market.

A newly released intelligence report by the national police force 
warns that criminals are using family members and associates with 
clean police records to get around program safeguards.

"Gaining access to or control of a medical marijuana grow operation 
is highly desirable for criminal networks due to the array of 
opportunities it would present for the illicit production and 
diversion of high-grade medical marijuana," says the report, which 
was completed in May 2012.

It also notes that screening an applicant through a criminal record 
check is insufficient to keep undesirable elements from infiltrating 
the program. A heavily censored copy of the report was released to 
The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act.

The findings follow numerous warnings and reports of illegal activity 
linked to Health Canada's Marijuana Medical Access Regulations initiative.

The department has announced a complete reworking of the medical 
marijuana system - in part due to concerns about the risk of criminal 
exploitation.

Under the existing program, to be phased out by April 1, 2014, 
individuals are issued licences to grow marijuana for their personal 
use to help ease the symptoms of their medical conditions.

More than 30,000 people across the country are authorized to use the 
drug for medical purposes.

The Mounties have long advised that the illegal marijuana trade is a 
multi-billion-dollar industry in Canada.

The RCMP report cites case studies that reveal criminal tactics for 
abusing the federal program, including:

Producing marijuana in excess of the quantity allowed under a Health 
Canada permit - in one instance almost 80 kilograms annually, with a 
street value of more than $650,000;

Circumventing federal safeguards by having a family member without a 
criminal conviction, such as a spouse, obtain a licence;

Efforts by organized criminal groups to gain access to a licence 
through a complex web of associates.

"Criminal groups are currently exploiting Health Canada's MMAR 
program," says the report, adding "at least one high-level criminal 
organization - identified as a national level threat - is proactively 
seeking opportunities to exploit future MMAR guidelines currently 
being developed by Health Canada."

In 2010, the RCMP said a review concluded that 70 licence holders 
were violating the terms of their agreements. In 40 of the cases, 
holders were trafficking marijuana.

Last month, CBC-TV aired an interview with a man from Nelson, B.C., 
identified only as Jack, who said he made about $120,000 a year 
selling the marijuana he cultivated using his medical licence.

Under Health Canada's new medical marijuana program, individuals will 
no longer apply for licences to grow plants at home. Instead, 
licensed producers will cultivate marijuana for distribution to 
individuals whose health-care providers agree it is an appropriate treatment.

The government says the licensed producers will be subject to 
extensive security and quality-control requirements.

Those include security clearances for key personnel, alarm systems at 
growing facilities to detect intruders, and compliance and 
enforcement measures, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said in an 
opinion piece published Wednesday by the Globe and Mail newspaper.

In addition, dried marijuana will be shipped through a secure 
delivery service directly to the address the client specifies, Aglukkaq said.

"Taken together, these measures will reduce the risks of diversion of 
marijuana to illicit markets."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom