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Health Canada will actively monitor for marijuana advertising violators

Baker and customer service employee, Shawn Saunders, sells product to a customer, at the Cannabis Buyers Club, in Victoria B.C., Thursday June 11, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

OTTAWA – Health Minister Rona Ambrose is ordering a crackdown on groups who illegally advertise marijuana.

Health Canada issued a statement saying it will actively monitor marijuana advertising instead of acting mostly on the basis of complaints.

Under current law, only regulated parties such as licenced producers are allowed to advertise basic, non-promotional information.

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The statement says violators will receive compliance letters, and repeat violators could face legal action.

Ambrose says she ordered a more proactive approach to enforcement due to the rise of illegal online and storefront marijuana dispensaries.

Although marijuana is legal when authorized by a health care practitioner, Ambrose has previously said it has not been proven safe nor effective as a medicine.

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