LAID-OFF WORKER CANNABIS CLUB MEMBER WANTS SEIZED MEDICAL MARIJUANA
RETURNED TO PATIENTS

GUELPH - A recently laid-off Medical Cannabis Club of Guelph employee
is calling on city police to return medical marijuana seized in a bust
last week to patients holding valid Health Canada designations.

"Everything that was confiscated, we can document it through
federally-issued permits," said Scott Gilbert.

At least 100 of about 330 members of the cannabis club held Health
Canada designations, he said.

Guelph Police charged Gilbert for drug trafficking last Thursday,
after searching the 62 Baker St. cannabis club and five other
addresses on Dublin Street, London Road, Arrow Road and Quebec Street.
Officers seized more than 20 kilograms of dried marijuana as well as
several vials of ground marijuana, 258 marijuana plants, a quantity of
marijuana-laced muffins, scones, cakes and cookies and more than
$10,000 cash. Police estimated the value of seized drug items in
excess of $100,000.

Gilbert was arrested, along with the club founder, and two other
individuals. They were all released on bail Friday on a promise to
return to court May 31.

Sgt. Ray Gordon with the Guelph Police said the items are being held
as evidence of drug trafficking. Anyone that may call with inquiries
would be referred to access Health Canada regulations, he said.

"If they don't have Health Canada licences, they are not legally in
possession of marijuana," Gordon said.

According to Health Canada, private medical marijuana dispensaries are
illegal and legal access to marijuana for medical reasons can only be
obtained from Health Canada. The government does permit designated
growers, but they aren't authorized to grow marijuana for more than
two people.

At the Baker Street office late Tuesday afternoon, the cannabis club
founder Rade Kovacevic was speaking with a client. He said he's had to
turn away at least 50 people in the last couple days with apologies
that the club has temporarily shut down.

Kovacevic isn't dispensing any medical marijuana at the Baker Street
site, but is providing clients information and printing out
applications to apply for a Health Canada designation. He has also
laid off his four employees.

"I have patients crying to me because they can't sleep and can't walk
because they are having seizures," Kovacevic said.

He encouraged residents to call Mayor Karen Farbridge's office as well
as city police to explain their health implications as a result of
shutting down the cannabis club.

A rally is being organized for Saturday afternoon to demonstrate the
club's support in the community.

Gilbert wrote a letter to the mayor this week stating that the club's
raid will now increase risks to patients' safety as they will access
marijuana through street dealers.

"What we have been pushing for is open dialogue with the city,"
Gilbert said in an interview.

He said since Health Canada was issuing federal grow permits almost
weekly in Guelph, the club was cultivating marijuana in a safe, secure
environment for patients. Club members spoke with police about
security issues, prior to the raid, and hired an electrical contractor
to address safety concerns, Gilbert said.

He said he worried the raid may also result in more individuals
growing in residential settings and not passing on information to
local authorities.

"There are so many people getting Health Canada (licences) . . . there
are so many grow-ops popping up within Guelph that the city needs to
manage this."

Even Gilbert didn't want to grow and distribute within his own home,
he said, although he has a designation to possess marijuana as well as
two designations to store, cultivate and distribute marijuana. It's
why he said he brought his marijuana into the club to distribute.

The club has been quite transparent and is a member of the local and
provincial chamber of commerce as well as the Downtown Guelph Business
Association, Gilbert said.

Kovacevic said the day after the raid, he received both his Health
Canada designations; one to possess, cultivate and store marijuana and
another to distribute, cultivate and store marijuana. His application
had been held up for nearly six months, he said, adding that's the
reason the club also allowed patients to access medical marijuana
simply with a doctor's prescription.

Doctors were called to verify the prescription, he said, and the
club's clients were informed club membership didn't equate to a
federal licence.

The rally to support the club will be held in St. George's Square on
Saturday from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.