Pubdate: Thu, 10 Nov 2016
Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN)
Copyright: 2016 The Leader-Post Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.leaderpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361
Author: Brian Fitzpatrick
Page: A4

POT DISPENSARY OWNER CHARGED AFTER TWO RAIDS IN WHITEWOOD

A marijuana dispensary owner has been charged with a range of offences
after Broadview RCMP conducted two raids in Whitewood on Tuesday morning.

An RCMP brief said that marijuana and property, including cellphones,
computers, cash and three vehicles, were all seized during raids on a
business - not named by RCMP but known to be Martin Medical Services
on the 600 block of 3rd Ave. in Whitewood - and a private residence.

Jerry Matthew Martin, 45, is charged with offences relating to the
"operation of an unlawful marijuana dispensary," RCMP said.

These include the trafficking and possession of marijuana and cannabis
resin, possession of the proceeds of crime, trafficking in the
proceeds of crime and laundering the proceeds of crime.

After an appearance at Provincial Court in Broadview Wednesday, Martin
has been released to reappear on Nov. 23.

Martin and his lawyer, the Vancouver-based medical marijuana advocate
Kirk Tousaw, could not be reached for comment.

Just 36 dispensaries are legally licensed to produce and sell medical
marijuana under Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes (ACMPR)
regulations introduced in August. Two of those - Prairie Plant Systems
Inc. and CanniMed Ltd., both of Saskatoon - are based in
Saskatchewan.

By law, medical marijuana must only be given to those with a doctor's
prescription and must be delivered securely by mail via approved
channels, not via storefronts.

However, in practice, a blind eye has often been turned to a new wave
of medical marijuana vendors.

Though registered as a non-profit and describing itself on its website
as Saskatchewan's "1st & only" Canadian Association of Medical
Cannabis Dispensaries-approved supplier, Martin Medical Services is
not among the suppliers cleared by Health Canada.

In September 2015, under the previous federal government, Martin
Medical Services and 12 other dispensaries across Canada received
warnings from Health Canada that they faced charges if they continued
to sell their products.

In October 2015, the Saskatchewan Compassion Club, a non-profit
dispensary based in Saskatoon, was raided with similar charges brought
against its operator.
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MAP posted-by: Matt