CASE AGAINST COMPASSION CLUB UP IN SMOKE

Second Such Retreat This Year. Enforcement Continues While Government
Won't Improve Medical Pot Supply: Lobby

The federal Department of Justice has dropped all trafficking-related
charges against another marijuana compassion club in Toronto because
it was not in the "public interest" to continue the
prosecution.

Three members of the Section 56 compassion club faced charges
including possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking and
possession of proceeds of crime. The defendants were charged last year
after police seized more than eight kilograms of marijuana from the
club.

One of the three defendants, Bruce Ryan, had asked the court to hear a
motion that the existing Marijuana Medical Access Regulations were
unconstitutional.

Instead of arguing the motion, a federal Justice Department prosecutor
told a provincial court judge on June 9 that the charges were being
withdrawn, without providing reasons.

Medical marijuana advocates say despite a number of legal victories,
police are still laying charges and the federal government is not
complying with court orders to improve supply to sick people.

Ryan said Health Canada has not responded to an application he made
last October to set up a compassion club to provide marijuana to 12
chronically ill people. "Not a phone call, not a letter," Ryan said.

Catherine Saunders, a Health Canada spokesperson, said yesterday the
federal government has no intention of complying with the court's
direction to increase the legal supply of medical marijuana by
allowing registered producers to grow for more than one person.

"We have to minimize the risk of diversion and follow our
international (drug) treaty obligations," Saunders said.