Pubdate: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC) Copyright: 2013 Nanaimo Daily News Contact: http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608 Author: Jim Bronskill CRIME GROUPS EXPLOITING MEDICAL POT, SAYS RCMP Those Without Criminal Records Used As Fronts, Says Report 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, 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 multibillion-dollar industry in Canada. 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom