SASKATOON – Compassion Club owner Mark Hauk wasn’t alone Saturday in his fight for a community based medical marijuana dispensary. About 100 supporters rallied against the police raid of his business in front of the Saskatoon police headquarters.
On Thursday, Hauk and three employees of the Saskatchewan Compassion Club were taken into custody for operating a medical marijuana business outside federal law.
All four were released from custody Friday under a number of conditions.
READ MORE: Saskatoon pot dispensary owner calls police ‘gutless’ after raid
“They were operating as if they were a legitimate business, they are not a legitimate business, they are marijuana trafficking so they’re drug traffickers,” said Saskatoon police Insp. Dave Haye.
Supporters say the business provides products they can’t get through Health Canada. Currently, regulated shops can only sell dried cannabis by mail.
Compassion Club customer Beverly Schindelka has Addison’s Disease and says the store is a matter of life and death.
“I feel that this was a total outrage. The victims of this crime and it is a crime in my opinion,” said Schindelka. “The victims are the people who are sick and need this.”
Hauk says he doesn’t regret operating the dispensary and hopes the support shown at the rally will provide powerful evidence when he is back in court Nov. 12.
“I’m anxious to get in front of a judge and talk about as to why we did that. I am confident at the end of the day that the judge will understand that it is a necessity to have a community based dispensary and until such time we have a reasonable federal program,” said Hauk.
There is the potential for reform when it comes to pot. Prime minister-designate Justin Trudeau has promised to look into legislation to legalize marijuana across Canada.
Even without product to sell, the Compassion Club will open its doors Monday and continue to provide referrals and consultations for customers.
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