MARIJUANA FOR SALE, ON THE WEB

Medical marijuana grower offers drugs to others who need it through
City's first 'compassion club'

The city's first "compassion club" is open for business, offering six
strains of high-quality marijuana to those with a medical need, the
club's founder said Wednesday.

Carl Anderson, a Westsyde man who holds a permit to grow marijuana for
his own medical use, told The Daily News his newly formed
not-for-profit society already has about a dozen members.

Anderson said he decided to open a compassion club to keep people who
need the drug for medical reasons from being forced to buy it on the
street.

While Health Canada gives people permits to possess marijuana for
medical reasons, Anderson said the approval process takes much too
long. As a result, many people are forced to buy from street dealers
for months before they can access approved sources.

"Buying stuff off the black market, it's not pretty. You have no way
of knowing what you are getting, and if you complain, you're likely to
get stabbed in the stomach," he said. "I want to make sure people are
getting safe stuff."

Anderson said he was forced to buy from the street after the RCMP
raided his Westsyde home in 2009 and seized all his growing equipment
and marijuana amid allegations he was trafficking.

The man was never charged and the RCMP eventually returned his
equipment. Regardless, Anderson said he lost all his drugs, medicine
he needs to alleviate severe headaches he suffers as a result of a car
accident.

He said his society, Canadian Safe Cannabis Society, will only sell to
those who can prove they have a medical need. He sells marijuana for
$7.50 a gram or $175 an ounce. On the street, marijuana generally
sells for $10 to $15 a gram, or $200 to $250 an ounce.

Supt. Yves Lacasse, the Kamloops RCMP detachment commander, said he is
aware that Anderson has been trying to get approval to sell marijuana.

The officer said he does not believe Anderson has permission and, as a
result, he could be breaking Canada's drug laws.

"Without proper licences, what he is doing is trafficking," said
Lacasse. "Does he have the proper authority? It requires further
investigation."

According to Health Canada's website, people can get permits to
possess and grow marijuana for their own needs. A person can also
designate another person to grow marijuana for them if they are
unable. Health Canada has contracted with a company to grow marijuana
for approved medical users who don't want to grow their own.

Anderson said no one wants the official marijuana.

"The government stuff, nobody wants it. It's low in THC, and they only
have one strain. It's just not good stuff," he said.

His club will grow six different strains, all of which are tested and
certified by an independent lab, Anderson said.

People must register with his society to become members and have
access to his marijuana, he said.

Anderson said he gets the club's marijuana from a variety of sources,
including other approved personal-use growers who have a surplus.

"Instead of throwing it in the garbage, they can bring it to me," he
said.

Anderson's website can be found at www.ilikecannabis.ca .