Simple bust, with some big implications.

[Innocent criminal]

Last Updated: Friday, December 4, 2009 | 5:51 PM PT

CBC News

Victoria marijuana 'bakery' raided

A member of a medical marijuana group in Victoria has been arrested for allegedly making cookies, massage oil and other products from marijuana following a raid that could have implications for similar groups.

 

Thursday's bust was sparked by a complaint about the smell coming from a makeshift bakery in a one-bedroom apartment in Victoria, according to Ted Smith, head of Victoria's Cannabis Buyers Club, which rents the apartment.

 

Victoria police confirmed the raid took place but released no other details.

 

One man was arrested and Smith said he too expected to be charged.

 

Smith said his group, which has 3,000 members, has used marijuana to bake cookies and make massage oil and other products in the apartment for the past two years without a problem.

 

Health Canada allows people suffering from debilitating illnesses to have access to marijuana for medical purposes. They can get the marijuana through Health Canada or they can get permission to grow it themselves.

 

But Smith said there is a contradiction in the law, which allows the designated users to smoke marijuana but prohibits them from turning it into any other product.

Seeking city's help

 

"If you take legally grown cannabis, or Health Canada's and make it into one of these products, you've actually made an illegal extract," he said.

 

Smith said he was found not guilty on a similar charge in 2007.

 

"We were successful in court, beating those charges, so we are going to use this unfortunate opportunity to point out the fatal flaw in Health Canada's programs."

 

The charge makes all medical marijuana groups vulnerable, Smith said.

 

He said his group would call on the City of Victoria to help legitimize the club by issuing it a permit or making a representation in any court proceedings.

 

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/...-club-raid.html

 

I certainly hope this heads in the right direction and is not used to further tighten cannabis control, BC still has some of the best breeders around it would be a pity to see them fall off the map.

[brick]

They really are out to get us. So many laws and regulations to get around. Fucking up peoples lives over a weed.

[skunkxx]

SUcks Hope all turns out as well as possible

[DarkSpark]

That is ridiculous... allowed to SMOKE the product but not extract for making more healthy methods of ingestion. That is absurd. So let me get this straight... the smell of people SMOKING cannabis isn't bothering them but the bakery is an issue...

 

They should allow the people to make their cookies and tinctures etc in a factory/warhouse environment legally. That way appropriate measures could be taken to ensure cleanliness and propper practices. I can't believe that such a large hole has been left in the law forcing people to smoke rather than eat or drink their cannabis.

 

best of luck too all involved.