Pubdate: Wed, 19 Feb 2014
Source: Prince George Citizen (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Prince George Citizen
Contact:  http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/350
Author: Jim Bronskill

RCMP HAS NOSE OUT OF JOINT ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA

OTTAWA - There is an "overwhelming temptation" for growers of medical 
marijuana to supplement their income under the current system by 
selling extra pot, the RCMP says.

Police investigations have revealed various abuses of the federal 
medical marijuana program, including trafficking for personal gain, 
violent theft of homegrown pot and involvement of organized crime, 
RCMP Cpl. Shane Holmquist says in an affidavit filed in the Federal 
Court of Canada.

Health Canada plans a revamp of the medical marijuana system - in 
part due to concerns about criminal infiltration.

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

Several British Columbia residents with licences to grow their own 
pot are asking the Federal Court for an injunction that would allow 
them to continue doing so.

They argue the proposed new system, under which only licensed 
producers could grow marijuana for distribution to approved patients 
by mail, would deny them a safe supply tailored to their needs at an 
affordable price.

Under the current regime, more than 30,000 people have a licence from 
Health Canada to grow marijuana for themselves or for another person. 
More than half of them are in B.C.

In his court submission, requested by the federal government as part 
of its defence, Holmquist says he has seen numerous instances of 
licensees trafficking marijuana they grow - sometimes through 
cultivation of oversized "monster" plants.

In one case, a grower stated one room of marijuana was for medical 
purposes while another was a "mortgage helper," Holmquist says.

"In my experience investigating [medical marijuana] grow locations, I 
have found that there is an overwhelming temptation for... growers to 
sell marijuana to supplement their income."

A 2009 RCMP review found 40 cases of licence holders selling excess 
marijuana for profit. Organized crime groups are known to target 
terminal cancer patients, offering large sums to help them enjoy the 
time they have left, Holmquist says. In return, the patient obtains a 
marijuana grow licence and makes the criminal their designated grower.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom