Pubdate: Wed, 18 Mar 2009
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2009 The Globe and Mail Company
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Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Ian Bailey
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada)
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'COMPASSION' CLUB BUSTED AS POT RING

North Vancouver RCMP charge 13 after ring allegedly supplied 
recreational users, not those with medical marijuana needs

VANCOUVER -- The RCMP say they have busted a pot-delivery operation 
that was masquerading as a compassion club that provided marijuana 
for medical needs.

Mounties in North Vancouver yesterday announced 13 people had been 
charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, following an 
investigation that began in September, 2007, after police received an 
anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers. The arrests put an end to the 
operation of the so-called Internet Compassion Association, police said.

"People would call them up and make their order. [The organization] 
would make the delivery," RCMP Corporal Marlene Morton said.

Cpl. Morton said the customers were not people with medical marijuana 
needs, but rather recreational drug users looking for a convenient 
source of product.

It's an unusual case, she said. "We have busted other dial-a-dope 
rings, but this is the first time I have seen one that has been 
passing themselves off as a compassion association," she added.

Police say they seized six kilograms of marijuana from a storage 
locker of the alleged ringleader of the operation, 39-year-old Jason 
Thon, who is charged with a count of trafficking in a controlled 
substance. Some arrests in the case were made in the middle of last 
month, with some suspects appearing in court late last week, but 
police announced details of the investigation only yesterday.

A total of 41 charges have been forwarded against various 
individuals, with more charges expected, police said. Arrest warrants 
are out for four individuals accused of being parties to the ring.

The B.C. Compassion Club Society said the group had caused some concern.

"It was definitely creating some confusion, and we were receiving 
calls from people looking for them and not aware we have much more 
stringent requirements for becoming a member," said Jay Leung, a 
spokesman for the non-profit organization that has been providing 
medicinal cannabis since 1997.

Mr. Leung said club officials did not contact police, but rather 
considered the whole situation a bit of a nuisance. "We set whoever 
called us straight," he said.

He said the club never had any direct contact with the alleged ring, 
and did not think it affected his group's credibility. But he said 
the ring might stir up lingering controversy around medical marijuana 
in society, despite its benefits.

"There's still this controversy, so the compassion clubs worked long 
and hard over the past decade to establish good practices and 
standards and establish our credibility," he said. "So it's 
problematic when people don't have those motivations, aren't 
following those guidelines but are just using the name in the hopes 
of protecting what they are doing."
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