Pubdate: Thu, 04 Jul 2013
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html
Website: http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Jim Bronskill
Page: A15

MEDICAL-POT EXPLOITATION EVIDENT

RCMP Report: Police say criminals often take advantage of legal weed 
programs

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 because of 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 currently authorized to
use the drug for medical purposes. 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 healthcare providers agree it is an appropriate
treatment.
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MAP posted-by: Matt