Pubdate: Sun, 05 Apr 2015
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2015 Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact: http://www.edmontonsun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.edmontonsun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Kevin Maimann
Page: 3

GROW-OPS SKIRTING THE LAW

While patients are fighting for better access to medical marijuana, 
home grow-ops are giving Edmonton police a headache.

The federal government made home growing illegal last year, but 
medical users fought the new regulations in court and won a temporary 
injunction allowing those who were currently growing for medical 
purposes to continue doing so.

The federal government lost an appeal to strike the injunction down 
in December, and a constitutional challenge remains before the federal court.

Sgt. Dwayne Karpo with the EPS Green Team said home grow-ops often 
skirt the law.

"It definitely is an abused program," he said, though he could not 
pinpoint how many home-based growers are conducting illegal 
activities in Edmonton.

"It does make our job tougher with so many Health Canada issued 
licences out there."

Karpo also worries about break-ins if criminals find law-abiding home 
grow-op locations.

Last month, two people with valid medical marijuana production 
licences were busted for trafficking in Sherwood Park.

A man and woman in their twenties were slapped with numerous charges 
after Strathcona County RCMP and Alberta Law Enforcement Response 
Teams discovered 198 pot plants and a "large sum of cash" at a 
residence, as well as 425 grams of "suspected cocaine" at an Edmonton 
storage locker believed to be tied to the pair.

Dustin William Warwa, 28, and Mary Natasha Rickerd-Rousso, 26, were 
arrested and charged.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom