ONE POT CLUB RAID CASE WITHDRAWN

GUELPH - The Crown has withdrawn its case against one of four people
charged with drug trafficking when a Guelph compassion club was raided
by police this spring.

On May 6, 31-year-old Nicole Freeborn was arrested and charged with
possession for the purpose of trafficking after city police searched
the Medical Cannabis Club of Guelph on Baker Street, as well as five
other addresses on Dublin Street, London Road, Arrow Road and Quebec
Street.

The club's founder and two others were also arrested and charged with
trafficking on the same day.

Earlier this week, the charge against Freeborn was withdrawn by
federal prosecutor David Doney.

Doney couldn't be reached for comment Thursday.

Freeborn's fiance Rade Kovacevic, the club's founder, said the charge
against his fiancee shouldn't have been laid in the first place.

"Since Day 1, I have said that it was my marijuana because I had a
medical prescription," he said Thursday, adding police charged
Freeborn after they found marijuana in their home.

Toronto lawyer Ron Marzel, who along with his colleague Alan Young is
representing the group charged, said the charge against Freeman was
dropped following negotiations with the Crown.

"(Nicole) has disavowed any ownership of the marijuana and the Crown
has graciously withdrawn the charges," Marzel said.

At the locations Guelph Police raided, they recovered 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 at in excess of $100,000.

"I am happy that they have acknowledged that she had nothing to do
with the case," Kovacevic said about Freeborn.

Kovacevic was charged with four counts of trafficking marijuana, two
counts of trafficking hashish, two counts of possession for the
purpose of trafficking and one count of drug production.

His charges, along with charges against two other co-accused, Eitan
Gallant and Scott Gilbert, are before the courts. They are still
awaiting further disclosure from the Crown and are to return to court
Sept. 13.

Gallant was charged with two counts of trafficking marijuana, one
count of trafficking hashish, one count of possession for the purpose
of trafficking and one count of drug production.

Gilbert was charged with four counts of trafficking marijuana, two
counts of trafficking hashish, one count of possession for the purpose
of trafficking and one count of drug production.

While awaiting the court's decision, Kovacevic keeps the compassion
club's doors open. However, instead of selling marijuana, the club is
selling hemp soaps, bags, hats, clothing and vaporizers to pay the
rent.

"We are nowhere close to paying the bills . I am in extreme
debt."

The club is also matching up Health Canada-designated growers with
patients in search of medical marijuana and is renting out space for
people to meet and exchange marijuana.