Major bust of Compassion Club in Chilliwack, two days after it opened
By Contributor
Chilliwack RCMP have shut down a Compassion Club that advertised medical marijuana but was allegedly planning to peddle hash oil and drug-laced lollipops.
The Be Kind Medical Clinic, complete with doctors and a pharmacist, had a business licence but was open only two days before RCMP obtained a warrant. Investigators located a marijuana hashish lab and marijuana oil extraction lab which was being used to produce marihuana oils.
It appeared as though the marihuana oils were being used in marijuana related food products which included, chocolate, lollipops, and edible hashish, said RCMP Cpl. Tammy Hollingsworth.
“Ultimately, the business was being operated under the guise of a medicinal marijuana compassion club where marijuana, marijuana oils, and related products were being offered for sale,” said Cpl. Kurt Bosnell, of the Chilliwack RCMP CRU.
The products were individually packaged for re-sale. Approximately five pounds of dried marijuana bud was seized from the location and numerous pieces of evidence to suggest the marijuana was intended for sale.
Police confirmed with Health Canada that no medicinal marijuana licences existed for the business owner or the business address. One man was arrested in the connection with the illegal club and is awaiting charges.
Investigators from the Chilliwack RCMP Crime Reduction Unit (“CRU”) were advised by Health Canada they do not licence compassion clubs as they are illegal.
“The business was not licenced by Health Canada to distribute or sell marijuana to the public and was found to be an illegal marijuana trafficking operation that was operating as a store front business,” said Cpl. Bosnell.
The marijuana oil extraction lab posed some risk of fire. During the extraction, isopropyl alcohol is brought to a boil over a heat source which causes extremely flammable fumes to be released in the air.
As a result of the search warrant, the City of Chilliwack removed the occupancy permit from the building and is in the process of revoking their business licence. The Abbotsford owner of the business listed the type of business as “Healthcare/Medicine” when he applied for his business licence.
During the course of the investigation, police discovered the business was advertised on Craigslist under Therapeutic Services. The advertisement claimed that a medical marijuana clinic and compassion club was opening in Chilliwack on June 20.
Cpl. Hollingsworth said the ad claimed there would be health care professionals on site including medical doctors, a doctor of Chinese medicine, and a pharmacist. The ad offered assistance in obtaining a Health Canada Marihuana Medical Access Regulations (MMAR) card.
A 41-year-old Abbotsford man was arrested and charges of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, production of a controlled substance, and trafficking a controlled substance are being forwarded to Crown counsel.
The man was later released on a promise to appear with a court date of Oct. 18. The investigation is ongoing and it will later be determined if charges will be forwarded for the owner of the business.
Another major bust in Hope
On Wednesday, June 8, the RCMP Coordinated Marijuana Enforcement Team of the Federal Drug Enforcement Branch seized 6,496 marijuana plants, 11 greenhouses, six high capacity diesel generators and related grow equipment, from a large rural property in Hope, and a further six diesel generators from a nursery business in Surrey.
Fourteen dogs were located on the property in Hope, and the SPCA has taken 13 of those dogs into their care, with one being returned to its owner.
The 6,496 plants seized by this enforcement equates to 1,218 pounds or a little over half a tonne of marijuana.
Four individuals have been arrested as a result of this investigation and a fifth individual is being sought by police. The names of these individuals are being withheld pending charge approval.
