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Advocate For Pot Arrested
Pubdate: Mon, 16 May 2005
Source: Windsor Star (CN ON)
Copyright: The Windsor Star 2005
Contact: http://www.canada.com/windsor/windsorstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501
Author: Sarah Sacheli
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
ADVOCATE FOR POT ARRESTED
Police Raid Alleged Grow-Op
A Windsor man who says he grows marijuana for the sick and dying has been
busted on drug charges.
Fred Pritchard, 37, a self-styled marijuana legalization advocate who goes
by the moniker Daweedking, is facing charges of marijuana production and
trafficking.
Windsor police drug squad officers, armed with a search warrant, seized 26
marijuana plants from the basement of Pritchard's Albert Street home May 6.
Also seized were lights and other equipment from the basement grow
operation and $1,100 in cash.
Pritchard and his wife, Renee, 41, were arrested and released to appear in
court at a later date.
Pritchard told The Star the bust has put his Marijuana Compassion Club of
Windsor out of business. He declined further comment until he spoke to a
lawyer.
Last year Pritchard waded into the controversy over government pot, saying
the quality of pot he supplies to patients is far superior to the "schwag"
grown for the government in a former copper mine in Flin Flon, Man.
Medical Marijuana Rules
Health Canada allows patients who need marijuana to designate someone to
grow it for them. The designated grower must also be licensed, with Health
Canada authorization specifying the number of plants the grower can have at
any one time.
"The designated person is only allowed to grow for one person," said
Christopher Williams, a Health Canada spokesman.
The federal government issues the designated grower a identification card
that can be used to show police, and with the grower's permission will
disclose information to law enforcement agencies to "lessen the possibility
of police intervention."
Windsor police Staff Sgt. Ed McNorton said there was no indication
Pritchard was able to produce a Health Canada licence.
Williams said Health Canada cannot disclose how many people locally are
allowed to smoke pot or grow it for a patient who does.
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Medicine
More than 800 Canadians -- 325 in Ontario -- are licensed by Health Canada
to possess marijuana for medical purposes. There are 574 licensed growers
nationwide.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman