Medicinal marijuana advocates say a massive crackdown on so-called "compassion clubs" in Quebec will result in increased drug trade on the street.
Black market pot
Police arrested 35 people Thursday in the raids. Four cannabis clubs were closed in Montreal and one was shut down in Quebec City. Pot activist Boris St. Maurice is the founding leader of Quebec's Bloc Pot Party and runs one of the Montreal compassion clubs. He turned himself in after police told him they had a warrant for his arrest. In an interview with CTV's Tarah Schwartz, St. Maurice is most worried about those who use marijuana for medical reasons, "it definitely is a need, for some of us that are sick and have to use marijuana," he said. St. Maurice believes people will now be forced to buy pot on the black market.
Health Canada rules
In a statement, officials at Health Canada said that the government does not license organizations such as compassion clubs to possess, produce or distribute medical marijuana. The federal government requires people to apply to Health Canada for medicinal marijuana. After they are approved, they receive the drug from the government.
