That's the biggest difference we can make here as opposed to buying off the street. The registered non-profit society has been in operation for a little over a year. Some of roughly 130 members have referrals from their doctors, a few have exemptions from Health Canada, allowing them to possess marijuana. They all say they need the drug for their health. Health Canada is in the process of letting a contract for Canada's first legal marijuana farm, but it could be as much as a year before the first crop is in.
Police point out there is no legal source of marijuana or even marijuana seeds.
According to Andersen, when Lucas reported the theft of marijuana, he provided a name of a possible suspect and the police were able to recover the stolen goods. When Lucas went back to the police station to identify the drugs and ask for them back, not only did police refuse, on Tuesday they raided the club and have recommended the trafficking charges. The Vancouver Island Compassion Society and the larger Vancouver-based compassion club formed to provide a safe source of marijuana for their members, Lucas said. Now, he said, that safety is in jeopardy. James said he is suffering from fibromyalgia and has been given less than a year to live.