Pubdate: Wed, 03 Jan 2007
Source: Castlegar News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Castlegar News
Contact:  http://www.castlegarnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3613
Author: Lynsey Franks
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

MEDICINAL MARIJUANA GROW-OP HALTED

Trail resident Peter Roglich is left bewildered after local RCMP
seized roughly 200 marijuana plants from his personal grow-op last
week.

According to Roglich, he and his wife have both been diagnosed with
Hepatitis C, are using the plants for exclusively for medicinal
purposes; and have been licensed to do so for the past six months.

Roglich says he has a certified licence through Health Canada and
cannot understand what provoked the RCMP to enter his home.

The Roglich household was charged with two counts, including
possession of a controlled substance under section 4-Sub-1 of the
Controlled Drug and Substances Act (CDSA) and production of a
controlled substance under section Sub-1 of the CDSA.

"There's a lot of things that need to happen for a marijuana drug
licence," said Corporal Martin D'Anjou. "There is a bit of discrepancy
of what is and isn't allowed," he added.

RCMP officers executed a warrant to enter the home based on
complaints, and according to D'Anjou, they found just under 200
plants, dismantled the grow-op and disconnected the power.

"We were basing it on the safety concerns of both occupants and public
safety," said D'Anjou.

According to Health Canada medicinal marijuana guidelines, possession
limits are determined on a case-by-case basis, and the amount of
plants allowed is based on the amount of marijuana the patient is prescribed.

"I try to do everything legitimate and pay my bills," said Roglich. "I
had special breeds for special pain, and they took it all away."

Between Roglich and his wife, he said they were licensed to have 50
plants (25 each).

"I probably had about 150 plants, but some were very small," he said.
"I wasn't trying to hide, I'm trying to do everything legal."

Whether Roglich had a licence was unclear to RCMP members due to the
fact that the legality of the operation hadn't been released; Health
Canada gives medicinal users the option to release the information to
local authorities. In this case, the RCMP were uninformed.

"Once the licence is issued police don't have the power to come
inspect under the Health Canada jurisdiction," said D'Anjou. "In
looking at it, maybe he had a licence, we're not contesting that, but
we have no idea as to whether they were within the
boundaries."

Roglich is set to appear in court in March 2007. "I just hope they let
me resume my life and continue to grow my marijuana," said Roglich.
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MAP posted-by: Derek