Pubdate: Wed, 23 Sep 2015
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2015 The Edmonton Journal
Contact: 
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor.html
Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Ryan Cormier
Page: A8

ACCUSED TO FIGHT CHARGES IN RAID ON POT DISPENSARY

The head of a marijuana dispensary raided in July says he hopes the 
related charges are resolved quickly, but he's prepared to fight a 
lengthy court battle.

"We'll go to the Supreme Court if we have to," Aaron Bott said 
outside the courthouse Tuesday where a crowd of supporters stood 
nearby after his first appearance on a trafficking charge. "We're a 
little bit confused on why we have to defend ourselves. We're not criminals."

In July, Bott was taken by surprise when officers from the Alberta 
Law Enforcement Response Teams showed up at 4121 118th Ave., the 
marijuana supplier his family has run for more than a decade.

The non-profit Mobile Access Compassionate Resources Organization 
Society, or MACROS, supplied marijuana to users with a Health Canada 
medical-marijuana licence or a prescription from their doctor. More 
than 1,000 customers had health problems ranging from cancer to 
chronic pain, Bott said.

"We were a little shocked after 11 years of everyone knowing we were 
in the community," said Bott, who wore a marijuana-leaf tie. "I 
wasn't prepared to be an activist, but I guess I knew this day was 
coming. I'm going to keep helping patients."

Bott operated out of an office behind HemperFi, which sells hemp 
products, soaps and jam. MACROS is believed to be the only 
"compassion club" with a website and storefront office in Alberta, Bott said.

Police seized all of their product, including dried marijuana and 
edibles. They also seized marijuana plants from a Strathcona County 
home. Prosecutors now allege the family was illegally dealing 
marijuana without authorization.

Bott has said his clients had either a Health Canada medical 
marijuana licence or a prescription from their doctor.

Health Canada does not license organizations, such as compassion 
clubs, to possess, produce or distribute marijuana for medical purposes.

According to Health Canada, Aurora Cannabis Enterprises Inc., in 
Mountain View County, is the only Alberta company allowed to grow 
marijuana. There are 14 such companies in Ontario, six in British 
Columbia and two in Saskatchewan.

Bott, his brother Colin Bott and his mother and stepfather, Janice 
and Bob Cyre, face charges of possession for the purpose of 
trafficking and production of a controlled substance. They are 
scheduled to appear in court again Oct. 20.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom