SASKATOON – Computer equipment, doughnuts and cash are among the donations going to an unlicensed medical marijuana dispensary in Saskatoon after it was raided last week, according to its owner. The Saskatchewan Compassion Club re-opened its doors Monday morning after being shut-down by police last Thursday.
Mark Hauk, the dispensary’s owner, said a number of people have donated items to him after police seized his operational equipment.
“We needed some computer equipment,” said Hauk, who opened the club roughly two months ago and was arrested in the raid.
“It’s all been taken from us, so we’ve had a handful of computers come through the door,” he added.
READ MORE: Supporters of Compassion Club rally at police headquarters
Hauk and three others face various drug trafficking charges following the crack-down. They were released from jail Friday on a number of conditions. Hauk said he feels responsible for his colleagues being caught up in the entire situation.
“They’re some pretty amazing people that contribute to our community greatly,” said Hauk.
“That rips me up.”
A Saskatoon police spokesperson would not comment on if the service planned to monitor the club in the coming days. Hauk said the store-front will not sell marijuana for now and instead focus on providing information to those navigating the medical marijuana landscape.
“I am going to be here every day to do what I can outside of dispensing medicine,” said Hauk, who estimated that half of his time running the club is spent educating and advocating on the topic of medical marijuana.
“We do a lot of consultation work, the medical marijuana program as it stands, the federal program is quite tough to navigate for people, particularly in Saskatchewan,” he said.
Watch below: Dr. Brian Salte, head of the Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons, discusses the issue of marijuana in the medical community.
Saskatoon police officials have described the four accused as drug traffickers who were not running a legitimate business. Hauk and his supporters contend that the dispensary only served those with a license and provided more medical options than federally regulated operations.
“A given philosophy of a police department often determines the rate at which they’re going to crack down on marijuana,” said Lucas Richert a sessional lecturer at the University of Saskatchewan who studies drug and pharmaceutical history.
“Medical marijuana is a highly contested medicine right now and law enforcement officials have a lot to grapple with,” he added.
Hauk will make his next court appearance on Nov. 12. He said he’s confident a number of the charges will eventually be dropped.
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