Pubdate: Sat, 06 Feb 2016
Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN)
Copyright: 2016 The StarPhoenix
Contact:  http://thestarphoenix.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400
Author: Sean Trembath
Page: A4

CITY REPORT ON WEED TO GO TO COMMITTEE

Solicitor says storefront operations not permitted to dispense
marijuana

The owner of a Saskatoon marijuana dispensary has shuttered his
storefront due to the financial burden associated with drug
trafficking charges levelled against him, but he says he plans to
continue helping people get medical marijuana licences through a newly
founded organization.

"All things put together, unfortunately we had to move from that
spot," said Mark Hauk, owner of the Saskatchewan Compassion Club.

Hauk closed the dispensary, which was located in the 200 block of
Second Avenue North in Saskatoon, on Feb. 1.

The club had not distributed any marijuana since Oct. 29, when
Saskatoon police raided the location and arrested Hauk and three employees.

Hauk was originally charged with four counts of trafficking a
controlled substance (marijuana and cannabis resin), two counts of
possession for the purpose of trafficking a controlled substance, and
possession of proceeds of crime.

Some of those charges have since been dropped, but he is still accused
of trafficking dried cannabis and possession of proceeds of crime.

On Friday, he said his lawyer is preparing a challenge of the charges
based on the constitutional right to access medicine.

"I'm 100 per cent confident today that if they force us to trial on
the charges of trafficking dried cannabis that we'll make quick work
of the charges in court," Hauk said.

After the arrests, the compassion club focused on helping Saskatchewan
residents navigate the processes around acquiring medical marijuana
prescriptions.

On Friday, Hauk said he is continuing that aspect of his work via the
newly formed Saskatchewan Cannabis Resource Centre. The organization
currently operates online, but Hauk said he hopes to find another
location where he can see clients in person.

"The wheels are in motion to establish a storefront. There's a lot of
people who want to sit faceto-face and need help with their
paperwork," he said.

On Monday, the city's planning and development committee will consider
a report from the city solicitor about the legalities around medical
marijuana dispensaries.

The report, which was prepared in response to a request from the
committee last August, states that medical marijuana is entirely under
federal jurisdiction and that storefront dispensaries are not legal
under federal law.

"A storefront operation is not a permitted method of dispensing
medical marijuana under the current regime regardless of the type of
license obtained," the report says.

Hauk is scheduled to speak at Monday's meeting.

He said the committee should consider the public health benefits of
licensing dispensaries, as well as the advantages of considering how
to regulate such businesses now, in advance of the anticipated
legalization of marijuana under the Justin Trudeau government.

"It's important the conversation continue around the important
matters, and that's access to medicine, it's not the federal
regulations," Hauk said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt