Pubdate: Wed, 05 Aug 2015
Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB)
Copyright: 2015 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.winnipegsun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.winnipegsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503
Author: Jim Bender
Page: 3

PRICE TO PAY

Cops bust unlicensed marijuana dispensary

Former Winnipeg police officer Bill VanderGraaf vented his rage
outside of Your Medical Cannabis Headquarters after its owner was
arrested there Tuesday morning.

Owner Glenn Price, his wife, Sandra, and a customer were all arrested
during a raid that started about 11 a.m.

"It's bulls*!" VanderGraaf exclaimed outside of the Main Street
dispensary. "We have many people with health issues in this country,
including Winnipeg, and they have every right to access this product
in a proper, legal manner ... We should control and regulate, and take
it out of the hands of criminals. This man (Price) is doing a service
to the community."

Police would only confirm that they were involved in an operation in
the 1400-block of Main Street "regarding illegal drug sales,"
spokesperson Const. Robert Carver said in an email. According to a
press release, police believe the store was operating in contravention
of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). "Further
information relating to the details of this operation will be released
once the investigation has concluded," Carver wrote.

Price had previously been warned not to sell medical marijuana because
it is illegal to do so without a licence from Health Canada. But
Vancouver recently defied federal regulations to grant licences to
medical marijuana dispensaries.

"We have the same rights as Vancouver and we see them flourishing in
these cities,' said VanderGraaf, a Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
spokesperson who uses medical marijuana to combat PTSD. "We want them
in Winnipeg and we will get them in Winnipeg, eventually.

"I will never ask the police not to enforce the law, but it's time
that the law be changed. It's time that this government started
looking after the people and not criminalizing the people for what
they're smoking. Let's get some common sense back to our cities."

Price sells medical marijuana to those who have legal permission to
use it for various health reasons granted by Health Canada.

Pamela McColl, an advisory councillor for Smart Approaches To
Marijuana Canada, countered that both Price and the doctor who
provides the prescriptions to his customers are merely in it for the
money. McColl added that medical marijuana dispensaries "pose a public
health threat" because the cannabis offered is not approved by anyone.

Advertising that medical cannabis is for sale is also against the law,
McColl said. The penalty is "$5 million and/ or two years in jail or
more," she said.

"If he gets charged, we're going to have a demonstration to see how we
can get him out, and we're going to put on a fundraising benefit
social," VanderGraaf said.

Price could not be reached for comment.

*

Death threat over reports

Pamela McColl, an advisory councillor for Smart Approaches To
Marijuana Canada, claims she received death threats after she reported
Glenn Price was selling medical marijuana illegally last month.

"They were very vile and very aggressive," McColl said
Tuesday.

McColl was not surprised that police had arrested Price after giving
him ample warnings.

Police quoted Health Canada's Marijuana for Medical Purposes
Regulations after Tuesday's raid, which says "only licensed producers
approved by Health Canada can produce and provide medical marijuana.
Without this authorization, any person or business selling marijuana
is committing a criminal offence under the Controlled Drugs and
Substances Act."

But those regulations need to be updated, said Craig Jones, executive
director for the National Organization f or t he Reform of Marijuana
Laws in Canada.

"The government at all levels is conflicted as to what to do with
cannabis," Jones said. "It's time the government got into the 21st
century."

McColl also suggested that some customers of the licensed dispensaries
in Vancouver sell the marijuana in the street.

"That's probably true," Jones said. "But, even without dispensaries,
it's pretty easy for kids to get cannabis now."

There are 25 producers of medical marijuana licensed by Health Canada
allowed to sell it legally.

"They're all losing money because the illegal dispensaries are soaking
up all the business," McColl said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt