Jeff Morrison doesn't know where he's going to get his medical marijuana anymore.
"I've been making calls to try and find it, but I haven't had any luck so far," said Morrison, one of about 100 people who attended a protest and rally in St. George's Square Saturday in support of the Medical Cannabis Club of Guelph.
Police raided the club and some related residences earlier this month. Four individuals face a variety of charges.
"I think (the raid) was bogus. I really don't know how else to put it," said Morrison, who bought marijuana at the club's Baker Street location since December.
"Now I'm probably going to have to buy it off the street and probably buy more of it because it will be of a lower quality," he said.
Supporters of the club say it was providing legal marijuana to individuals licensed to purchase it for medical reasons. Police say illegal marijuana and hashish was being sold through the club.
Morrison said Guelph was the only place around he could get the marijuana that helps him deal with the effects of Crohn's disease.
Angela Mellon, an employee of the club for a year prior to the raid, said she's seen first hand how badly individuals need the club.
"I've seen people come in looking extremely sick, then days later look incredibly different," she said.
"We'd also been serving a lot of places like Hamilton and Simcoe. All legal and by the book. Now those people might have to get it off the street," Mellon said.
One of those out-of-towners who used the club was Alison Myrden of Burlington.
Myrden, a retired corrections officer who said she uses two-ounces of doctor-prescribed marijuana daily to help offset the effects of Multiple Sclerosis, said Guelph and Toronto were the closest places she could legally obtain marijuana.
"Their really is a need for this club. They're a legitimate business and people have to start recognizing them as such," she said. "Just because they're quasi-legal in the eyes of the government doesn't mean the people of the country don't believe they're a legal entity."
One of the four people facing charges, Scott Gilbert, attended and spoke at Saturday's peaceful rally.
"The marijuana sold through the club was all based on the referral of a physician," he said. "People with cancer, AIDS, MS, HIV, epilepsy, spinal injury and so on."
Gilbert is charged with four counts of trafficking marijuana, two counts of trafficking hashish, one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking and one count of drug production.
Club founder, Rade Kovacevic, is charged with four counts of trafficking marijuana, two counts of trafficking hashish, two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and one count of drug production. He did not attend Saturday's rally.
Eitan Gallant is charged with two counts of trafficking marijuana, one count of trafficking hashish, one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking and one count of drug production.
Nicole Freeborn, is charged with one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Freeborn has a Health Canada designation to store, cultivate and distribute marijuana.
Gilbert has a designation to possess marijuana as well as two designations to store, cultivate and distribute marijuana.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Guelph Mercury
Author: Tony Saxon
Contact: The Guelph Mercury
Copyright: 2010 Metroland
Website: Police raid sparks protest by medical marijuana users
"I've been making calls to try and find it, but I haven't had any luck so far," said Morrison, one of about 100 people who attended a protest and rally in St. George's Square Saturday in support of the Medical Cannabis Club of Guelph.
Police raided the club and some related residences earlier this month. Four individuals face a variety of charges.
"I think (the raid) was bogus. I really don't know how else to put it," said Morrison, who bought marijuana at the club's Baker Street location since December.
"Now I'm probably going to have to buy it off the street and probably buy more of it because it will be of a lower quality," he said.
Supporters of the club say it was providing legal marijuana to individuals licensed to purchase it for medical reasons. Police say illegal marijuana and hashish was being sold through the club.
Morrison said Guelph was the only place around he could get the marijuana that helps him deal with the effects of Crohn's disease.
Angela Mellon, an employee of the club for a year prior to the raid, said she's seen first hand how badly individuals need the club.
"I've seen people come in looking extremely sick, then days later look incredibly different," she said.
"We'd also been serving a lot of places like Hamilton and Simcoe. All legal and by the book. Now those people might have to get it off the street," Mellon said.
One of those out-of-towners who used the club was Alison Myrden of Burlington.
Myrden, a retired corrections officer who said she uses two-ounces of doctor-prescribed marijuana daily to help offset the effects of Multiple Sclerosis, said Guelph and Toronto were the closest places she could legally obtain marijuana.
"Their really is a need for this club. They're a legitimate business and people have to start recognizing them as such," she said. "Just because they're quasi-legal in the eyes of the government doesn't mean the people of the country don't believe they're a legal entity."
One of the four people facing charges, Scott Gilbert, attended and spoke at Saturday's peaceful rally.
"The marijuana sold through the club was all based on the referral of a physician," he said. "People with cancer, AIDS, MS, HIV, epilepsy, spinal injury and so on."
Gilbert is charged with four counts of trafficking marijuana, two counts of trafficking hashish, one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking and one count of drug production.
Club founder, Rade Kovacevic, is charged with four counts of trafficking marijuana, two counts of trafficking hashish, two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and one count of drug production. He did not attend Saturday's rally.
Eitan Gallant is charged with two counts of trafficking marijuana, one count of trafficking hashish, one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking and one count of drug production.
Nicole Freeborn, is charged with one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Freeborn has a Health Canada designation to store, cultivate and distribute marijuana.
Gilbert has a designation to possess marijuana as well as two designations to store, cultivate and distribute marijuana.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Guelph Mercury
Author: Tony Saxon
Contact: The Guelph Mercury
Copyright: 2010 Metroland
Website: Police raid sparks protest by medical marijuana users
