Pubdate: Fri, 16 Dec 2016
Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN)
Copyright: 2016 The StarPhoenix
Contact:  http://thestarphoenix.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400
Author: Bre McAdam
Page: A2

THREE COMMITTED TO TRIAL ON TRAFFICKING CHARGES IN COMPASSION CLUB CASE

Three people involved with a downtown Saskatoon medical marijuana
dispensary before it was raided in 2015 have been committed to stand
trial on trafficking-related charges.

The preliminary hearing for Mark Phillip Hauk, Lane Anthony Britnell
and Jaime Michelle Hagel wrapped up in Saskatoon provincial court on
Thursday.

Hauk owned the Saskatchewan Compassion Club, Britnell was an employee,
and Hagel was a volunteer. Each faces four charges: one count of
possession for the purpose of trafficking marijuana, two counts of
trafficking marijuana and one count of possessing proceeds of crime
over $5,000.

The defence called witnesses at the preliminary hearing. Five police
officers took the stand in October; two more testified Thursday.

The purpose of the hearing was to lay the groundwork for whatever
follows at the higher court level, Judge Barry Morgan explained after
committing the matter to Court of Queen's Bench.

Const. Michael Johnson, a member of the Saskatoon city police drug
enforcement unit who testified Thursday, said he followed Hauk to a
grocery store a month before the dispensary raid.

On Oct. 27, he waited outside the club while an officer bought
marijuana with a fake prescription after being turned away the
previous week. The next day, he swore information-to-obtain search
warrants for Hauk's home and the compassion club on Second Avenue North.

He read Hauk and Britnell their charges when the men were arrested
during the raid on Oct. 29, 2015.

At the time, Johnson said he was not aware that the club was
specifically selling medical marijuana, or that Hauk and Britnell had
medical-marijuana prescriptions.

Supt. David Haye said he didn't not know how much marijuana a
prescription holder could legally possess.

Police were investigating marijuana trafficking and no simple
possession charges were laid, the Crown clarified.

Johnson said he checked with Health Canada to determine the club did
not have a licence to sell medical marijuana.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt