News (Media Awareness Project) - Canada: MMJ: Raids Net $17M In Pot Plants |
| Title: | Canada: MMJ: Raids Net $17M In Pot Plants |
| Published On: | 1999-03-18 |
| Source: | Ottawa Sun (Canada) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-06 10:35:13 |
RAIDS NET $1.7M IN POT PLANTS
Medicinal user out of luck
Three men were arrested yesterday after RCMP drug raids at homes in
Vanier and Hull.
The raids netted 338 marijuana plants with an estimated street value
of $1.7 million.
At 10:30 a.m. the Mounties raided a first-floor apartment in a St.
Denis St. duplex in Vanier.
The apartment appeared to be solely used to grow hydroponic marijuana,
said RCMP Cpl. Marc Richer.
Two men, aged 40 and 42, were arrested and about $8,000 in growing
equipment and 77 pot plants were seized.
The raid drew particular attention because Jean-Charles Parizeau, an
AIDS victim who smokes pot to ease his pain and has been crusading to
have pot legalized for medicinal purposes, lives in the upstairs apartment.
Meanwhile, in another raid at the same time in Hull, 261 pot plants
and growing equipment worth $10,000 were seized from the basement of a
Frontaine St. home. One 49-year-old man was arrested at the Hull address.
Richer said the cases are linked and were part of an ongoing
investigation.
Charged with producing marijuana is Aubert Martins, 42, of
Hull.
He made a brief court appearance in Ottawa last night.
The other two men were released on promises to appear in court on
another date so their names were not made public.
Despite Parizeau living at the same address as the Vanier raid, Richer
said he was not arrested.
Pro-pot Bloc MP Bernard Bigras said he rushed over to Parizeau's home
yesterday when he heard of the raid.
Bigras said he's worried about Parizeau now that he's lost his free
supply of pot.
"The reality now is that Parizeau doesn't have his medicine anymore
and he's suffering," he said.
Bigras asked Solicitor General Lawrence MacAulay to instruct the RCMP
to show compassion and back off people who use pot for pain.
He also called on Health Minister Allan Rock to use his department's
powers to provide legal access to pot for AIDS and cancer victims.
Bigras said those moves are needed now since his Commons motion to
legalize weed for medical purposes only passed first reading earlier
this month. At that time Rock also announced the start of clinical
tests on the medicinal use of marijuana.
Medicinal user out of luck
Three men were arrested yesterday after RCMP drug raids at homes in
Vanier and Hull.
The raids netted 338 marijuana plants with an estimated street value
of $1.7 million.
At 10:30 a.m. the Mounties raided a first-floor apartment in a St.
Denis St. duplex in Vanier.
The apartment appeared to be solely used to grow hydroponic marijuana,
said RCMP Cpl. Marc Richer.
Two men, aged 40 and 42, were arrested and about $8,000 in growing
equipment and 77 pot plants were seized.
The raid drew particular attention because Jean-Charles Parizeau, an
AIDS victim who smokes pot to ease his pain and has been crusading to
have pot legalized for medicinal purposes, lives in the upstairs apartment.
Meanwhile, in another raid at the same time in Hull, 261 pot plants
and growing equipment worth $10,000 were seized from the basement of a
Frontaine St. home. One 49-year-old man was arrested at the Hull address.
Richer said the cases are linked and were part of an ongoing
investigation.
Charged with producing marijuana is Aubert Martins, 42, of
Hull.
He made a brief court appearance in Ottawa last night.
The other two men were released on promises to appear in court on
another date so their names were not made public.
Despite Parizeau living at the same address as the Vanier raid, Richer
said he was not arrested.
Pro-pot Bloc MP Bernard Bigras said he rushed over to Parizeau's home
yesterday when he heard of the raid.
Bigras said he's worried about Parizeau now that he's lost his free
supply of pot.
"The reality now is that Parizeau doesn't have his medicine anymore
and he's suffering," he said.
Bigras asked Solicitor General Lawrence MacAulay to instruct the RCMP
to show compassion and back off people who use pot for pain.
He also called on Health Minister Allan Rock to use his department's
powers to provide legal access to pot for AIDS and cancer victims.
Bigras said those moves are needed now since his Commons motion to
legalize weed for medical purposes only passed first reading earlier
this month. At that time Rock also announced the start of clinical
tests on the medicinal use of marijuana.
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