Canada - C.A.L.M. was raided during the afternoon of Wednesday, March 31, 2010. He along with eight employees were arrested for drug trafficking charges after numerous community complaints were sent to Toronto Police.
With serious charges pending Tapiero said during a phone interview that he was more shocked than afraid when the police rushed into the 106 Queen Street East center with their guns drawn. Tapiero said it was five to ten minutes before a warrant was produced.
"Everyone who was arrested had a license for medical marijuana."
Tapiero admits that he doesn't have a license to sell cannabis but contends that the license does not cover everything that members may need.
"This is an issue with Health Canada. They have dropped the ball over and over again for the past 12 years. They could be making changes-they just don't want to."
One of the issues that Tapiera spoke of concerns hash which can give suffers the same results as medical marijuana in smaller doses. The license does not cover nor does it exclude hashish. Without clear details it leaves the legality of hashish up to law enforcement instead of Health Canada.
Tapiero said that he has no problem with the police, they were only doing their job. He does, however have a problem with Health Canada.
At this time the center is open but there is no medical marijuana on site because of the raid. Staff has been told that if they need to smoke their medical marijuana they have to go to the back of the building but that leaves Tapiero leery.
"We can't guarantee that they will not be arrested."
Constable Tony Vella, Toronto Police Services, said that the raid took place after community complaints and an investigation that determined that C.A.L.M. did not have the proper Health Canada licenses to sell marijuana.
Vella pointed out the quantities seized from the raid-16,589 grams of marijuana, 1940 grams of hashish and 207 grams of hash oil plus the $31,000 in cash at the establishment.
"They were allegations that they were selling marijuana," Vella stated during a phone interview.
When asked why the warrant was not presented from the start of the raid Vella explained that was the standard during police raids.
"When the police execute a warrant they don't know what to expect. Warrants are only presented when the area is safe to do so."
C.A.L.M. is staging a protest on Sunday April 11 outside of Toronto Police headquarters.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: DigitalJournal.com
Author: KJ Mullins
Copyright: 2010 digitaljournal.com
With serious charges pending Tapiero said during a phone interview that he was more shocked than afraid when the police rushed into the 106 Queen Street East center with their guns drawn. Tapiero said it was five to ten minutes before a warrant was produced.
"Everyone who was arrested had a license for medical marijuana."
Tapiero admits that he doesn't have a license to sell cannabis but contends that the license does not cover everything that members may need.
"This is an issue with Health Canada. They have dropped the ball over and over again for the past 12 years. They could be making changes-they just don't want to."
One of the issues that Tapiera spoke of concerns hash which can give suffers the same results as medical marijuana in smaller doses. The license does not cover nor does it exclude hashish. Without clear details it leaves the legality of hashish up to law enforcement instead of Health Canada.
Tapiero said that he has no problem with the police, they were only doing their job. He does, however have a problem with Health Canada.
At this time the center is open but there is no medical marijuana on site because of the raid. Staff has been told that if they need to smoke their medical marijuana they have to go to the back of the building but that leaves Tapiero leery.
"We can't guarantee that they will not be arrested."
Constable Tony Vella, Toronto Police Services, said that the raid took place after community complaints and an investigation that determined that C.A.L.M. did not have the proper Health Canada licenses to sell marijuana.
Vella pointed out the quantities seized from the raid-16,589 grams of marijuana, 1940 grams of hashish and 207 grams of hash oil plus the $31,000 in cash at the establishment.
"They were allegations that they were selling marijuana," Vella stated during a phone interview.
When asked why the warrant was not presented from the start of the raid Vella explained that was the standard during police raids.
"When the police execute a warrant they don't know what to expect. Warrants are only presented when the area is safe to do so."
C.A.L.M. is staging a protest on Sunday April 11 outside of Toronto Police headquarters.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: DigitalJournal.com
Author: KJ Mullins
Copyright: 2010 digitaljournal.com
