NINE CHARGED AFTER MARIJUANA COMPASSION CLUB RAIDED

Nine people are facing drug charges after police raided a Queen St.
compassion club that sells medical marijuana to patients suffering
from chronic diseases, including HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

At about 3 p.m. Wednesday, plainclothes officers from 51 Division
raided the headquarters of CALM, or Cannabis As Living Medicine,
located at 106 Queen St. E.

The nine people arrested include club owner Neev Tapiero and
patients who are federally licensed to possess marijuana, said
CALM's lawyer Ron Marzel.

Marzel said police were well aware that CALM only distributes
marijuana for medical purposes, saying he is "appalled" by the
police action. He has yet to speak with the lead detective and said
he has no idea what prompted Wednesday's raid.

"Organizations like this have existed for a long time. It's not a
surprise to the police force that these organizations exist," Marzel
said, adding that CALM is actively lobbying for clearance from
Health Canada to sell medical marijuana. "In my assessment, this is
a totally inappropriate response to an organization that is seeking
legitimization to help sick people."

Tapiero said this is the first time police have raided CALM since
the club was established 14 years ago, in 1996. The compassion club
has about 3,000 registered members and about ten percent have
federally-issued cards permitting them to possess medical marijuana.
The rest have written approval from a doctor, chiropractor or
naturopath, Tapiero said.

Police involved in the raid could not be reached for comment on
Friday but a 51 Division staff sergeant confirmed that a warrant had
been executed at CALM by plainclothes officers. According to a
police document obtained by the Star, police seized 16,589 grams of
marijuana, 1,940 grams of hashish, and 207 grams of hash oil, the
sum of which has an estimated street value of $218,404. A quantity
of cash was also seized, according to the document.

Marzel said one person manning the door at CALM was knocked down and
injured by police during the raid. Two of the nine arrested were
also detained overnight, including Tapiero, but released Friday on
bail. CALM has been closed since the raid but a justice of
the peace has permitted club managers to re-enter the premises.

Tapiero said CALM is just one of several compassion clubs in Toronto
and he doesn't know why his establishment was suddenly targeted. He
acknowledged compassionate clubs operate within a kind of legal grey
zone but police have generally turned a blind eye towards
establishments such as CALM.

For CALM member Kim, who declined to give her last name, she fears
what would happen if CALM were to shut down. The 48-year-old single
mom is on disability and suffers from several maladies, including
fibromyalgia, and the pain gets so overwhelming she can't think or sleep.

But Kim dislikes over-the counter painkillers like OxyContin, which
leave her feeling groggy. She prefers medical marijuana, which
soothes her pain without robbing her of her functionality.

CALM is planning to hold a protest rally in response to the raid at
Allan Gardens at 1 p.m. on April 11.