FEDS PROTECT LEGAL POT GROWERS

So They Aren't Targets Of Drug Raids: Easter

OTTAWA -- Solicitor General Wayne Easter vowed yesterday to ensure
police officers get the names of Canadians authorized to grow pot so
they're not targeted in drug raids.

Easter, who has witnessed firsthand drug raids at marijuana grow
operations, told Sun Media he was unaware police were not being
provided that information by Health Canada, but insisted he will be
"talking to his counterparts" about it.

Currently there are 582 Canadians authorized to have pot for medicinal
purposes, 413 of them licensed to grow the weed.

"It's obviously something that we have to find a way to address ... we
don't want the overburden on privacy to put at risk someone's life,"
Easter said. "I've seen how some of these marijuana grow operations
are taken down and if an individual is provoked and somebody went in
guns blazing ... then we'd have great difficulties."

RCMP Staff Sgt. Marc Pinault, the national co-ordinator of the
marijuana grow operation squad, is pleased Easter is prepared to take
action.

"It makes me happy that something might move forward on this," Pinault
said. "Our ultimate goal is to prevent people from getting hurt."