Pubdate: Wed, 04 Nov 2015 Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN) Copyright: 2015 The Leader-Post Ltd. Contact: http://www.leaderpost.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor.html Website: http://www.leaderpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361 Author: Charles Hamilton Page: A5 POLICE RESPOND TO OUTRAGE OVER MARIJUANA RAID The recent police raid on the Saskatchewan Compassion Club set off a war of words between the club's operator and police. The case against the dispensary's owner and the club's employees is still before the courts, but on Tuesday Saskatoon police issued a news release in "an attempt to clarify public statements" made by the medical marijuana dispensary owner. The police maintain that Mark Hauk and three others were dealing drugs when they sold marijuana to patients at the unregulated storefront dispensary. The police statement said investigators were worried that allowing Hauk to operate with impunity would encourage other clubs to open and sell marijuana illegally. "At this time, it is a criminal offence to have in your possession or to sell (traffic) marijuana or its derivatives," the news release stated. Hauk acknowledges that his dispensary was operating outside Health Canada's regulations. He also says he knows it's illegal to provide marijuana concentrates and oils to patients - which he admits he was doing. Even after spending a night in jail and facing a host of trafficking charges, he stands by the decision, he said. "It's very much outside the regulations. The whole point is the regulations are bad," Hauk said in an interview on Tuesday. Hauk also disputes the claims made by police that he was manufacturing marijuana resin inside his home. "I will tell you this: The accusations that I ran a dangerous drug lab in my home, and possessed three kilos of resin I made, are complete and absolute lies based on no facts whatsoever," Hauk said. According to Hauk, the "resin" seized by police was actually frozen juice made from cannabis but with no psychoactive properties. He said the juice was given to him as a gift. "I don't even know how to make cannabis resin," Hauk said. In the news release, police said that although the new Liberal government has promised to legalize marijuana, the party has also promised strict regulations on who can sell the drug and how. Hauk said that he agrees entirely with legalization and the idea of strict regulations, and the city should be prepared for legalized marijuana. "They're going to have dispensaries both medical and legal in this city, and they're going to have to figure out how to deal with them. Prohibition is done," Hauk said. Hauk was emotional when speaking about the outpouring of support from people and patients since the bust. "Some moments are easier than others. We built a lot of relationships here with people who are genuinely suffering," he said. "They're sympathetic and supportive, but they're also sick." Hauk is charged with eight counts of trafficking, plus one count of production and one count of possessing the proceeds of crime. Lane Britnell is also charged with eight counts of trafficking, plus one each of possessing the proceeds of crime and production. Jaime Michelle Hagel and Carson Ramsay Hagel are charged with four counts of trafficking and one count of possessing the proceeds of crime. Ramsay is charged with six counts of trafficking and one count of possessing the proceeds of crime. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt