Pubdate: Tue, 10 Jun 2014
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2014 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wEtbT4yU
Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Katrina Clarke
Page: A8

Vancouver Tweeter

FREE HUNT FOR POT NOT LEGAL, POLICE SAY

An anonymous Twitter user is handing out free marijuana in Vancouver 
to anyone who can find it, but police warn this could be considered 
trafficking.

Using the handle a  someone is tweeting clues to the 
location of hidden marijuana in and around the B.C. city. "Spreading 
the green love around Vancouver," postings say.

"Hidden Weed" is a different take on "Hidden Cash," the money craze 
started by an anonymous millionaire real estate investor in San 
Francisco in May. The man started hiding envelopes, each with a $100 
bill, around the city and used Twitter to help strangers find the money.

The "Hidden Cash" craze has spread throughout the United States and 
Canada. Vancouver has also seen "Hidden Beer" and "Hidden Weed," 
which started June 4 and had more than 2,300 followers Monday.

"It's making everyone happy at the beginning of summer," said Robert 
Craig, who found a marijuana "prize" on Sunday. "It's pretty funny. 
It's pretty lighthearted."

He was following the Hidden Weed Twitter account when he saw a clue 
indicating the marijuana was six blocks from his house.

The 35-year-old and his girlfriend found their prize, a container 
filled with four grams of "very high quality" marijuana, in a flower 
bed downtown.

Mr. Craig split the prize with another searcher who "looked like he 
was having a rough day," he said.

He suspects a Vancouver dispensary is behind the gimmick. He points 
to the containers in which the drug is found, saying they are the 
same ones dispensaries use, with built-in grinders, and also to the 
quality of the marijuana. He thinks it's probably all a public relations stunt.

Six canisters were hidden on Sunday.

Vancouver police say they are aware of the "Hidden Weed" scavenger 
hunts. While no incidents have yet been reported to police, the 
person who is distributing the pot could "technically" be considered 
a trafficker.

"You could potentially face charges of trafficking if you're 
intentionally leaving an illegal substance somewhere for someone to 
pick up," said police spokesman Randy Fincham.

Mr. Fincham said the larger concern is an ethical one. A young child 
could find the drug or someone may have an adverse reaction to it.

"If it didn't go the criminal route, then it's definitely in poor 
taste," he said.

Brendan Hansell, a 25-year old North Vancouver resident who found 
hidden weed Friday, said he supposes some "transaction" is taking 
place, but doesn't think it should warrant an arrest.

"I think the police probably have bigger fish to fry than going 
around searching for someone hiding a couple of grams of weed every 
week," he said.

In his view, the "Hidden Beer" hunt, which took place in Vancouver 
last week, was worse than hiding marijuana.

"No one really thought that was a big deal, even though it's illegal 
to sell beer to minors," he said, adding he would be concerned if 
children found the marijuana.

As for what's in the canisters, Mr. Hansell isn't worried potentially 
dangerous substances could have been added.

"The old poisoned apple thing? I'm sure that would end the sensation 
behind the Twitter followers pretty quickly if anyone had anything 
bad to say about the weed," he said. "Everything's been positive so far."

It's not clear what the future of "Hidden Weed" will be. Requests on 
Twitter for an interview with the person or persons behind "Hidden 
Weed" went unanswered.

"I have a feeling it's probably not going to make it out of 
Vancouver. It's probably not going to fly in other cities," said Mr. Craig.

"You'd definitely never get away with it in Winnipeg."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom