Pubdate: Thu, 04 Jul 2013
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 The Vancouver Sun
Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Jim Bronskill
Page: B2

MEDICAL MARIJUANA DIVERTED TO ILLICIT MARKET

Criminal organizations use variety of tactics to gain access to crops:
RCMP report

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
multibillion 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 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,
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 in the Globe and Mail.

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: Matt