Pubdate: Thu, 06 Oct 2016
Source: Niagara Falls Review, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 Niagara Falls Review
Contact: http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/letters
Website: http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2907
Author: Bill Sawchuk
Page: A8

GROWERS USING LICENCES TO ILLEGALLY PRODUCE POT, COPS SAY

Niagara Regional Police say legal medical marijuana licences issued by
Health Canada are being used to mask illegal marijuana-growing operations.

The NRP's guns, gangs and grows unit executed a search warrant at a
Niagara-on-the-Lake farm Monday.

Over the past 13 months, the police have executed three search
warrants at 1651 Lakeshore Rd. and arrested 18 people while seizing
4,015 marijuana plants worth about $4 million on the street.

All matters are before the courts, but investigators believe the
people are hiding criminal activities by using legal medical marijuana
licences to produce marijuana for sale on the black market.

Police also believe that illegal marijuana-growing operations pose a
significant threat to the public and people operating them.

Recently a licensed Port Colborne marijuana greenhouse operation was
the site of a violent home invasion robbery, in which firearms were
used. Police said that operation, too, was growing more marijuana than
it was licensed to grow.

Police want to stress they do not believe that every medical marijuana
licence issued by Health Canada is being used for illegal purposes.

The majority are used for legitimate medical purposes, by law abiding
citizens, police said in a news release issued Wednesday.

Police encourage anyone who believes that someone is growing marijuana
illegally to contact the guns, gangs and grows unit.
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