cannabisnews.com: Police Want List of Growers Police Want List of Growers Posted by CN Staff on July 10, 2003 at 09:00:14 PT By Maria McClintock Source: Toronto Sun Ottawa -- Health Canada is putting people at risk by refusing to give police a list of the 413 people the government has authorized to grow pot, according to the head of the RCMP's marijuana grow operations enforcement unit. Staff Sgt. Marc Pinault says police have failed in their attempts to convince the federal government that providing the names and addresses of the people it has issued pot-growing licenses could prevent injuries during dangerous drug raids. "Health Canada's legal advice is the privacy doesn't allow them to do it," Pinault said, adding he's spoken directly to Health Minister Anne McLellan about the issue. "I asked Health Canada ... who is going to take responsibility on the next case where an officer kicks in a door, and we shoot somebody or an officer breaks his leg going up the stairs -- who is going to take responsibility?" Pinault said. Health Canada has set up a toll-free number police officers can call during business hours to get the information. But Pinault dismissed the line as "inadequate," adding that it doesn't help officers who are getting tips in the middle of the night. Health Canada's Cindy Cripps-Prawak admitted the hours of operation of the line are a problem. "We are exploring with the RCMP how we can make it ... a 24-7 access," Cripps-Prawak said. Toronto-area Liberal MP Dan McTeague argued the police should be given all the tools needed to do drug investigations. "It is a recipe for disaster," McTeague said yesterday. Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)Author: Maria McClintockPublished: Thursday, July 10, 2003 Copyright: 2003 Canoe Limited PartnershipContact: editor sunpub.comWebsite: http://www.fyitoronto.com/torsun.shtmlRelated Articles & Web Sites:Canadians for Safe Accesshttp://www.safeaccess.ca/Medicinal Pot Centre Planned in Ottawa http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16816.shtmlPatients Seek Relief On Price of Medical Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16813.shtmlProtesters Slam Move To Sell Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16812.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by Dankhank on July 10, 2003 at 10:30:20 PT Dangerous Raids? "Staff Sgt. Marc Pinault says police have failed in their attempts to convince the federal government that providing the names and addresses of the people it has issued pot-growing licenses could prevent injuries during dangerous drug raids."F**k the police ..."Stop runnng up stairs," my momma said or you'll get hurt.Why you have to kick down a door and point a loaded weapon at ANYONE growing pot is beyond me.Yes, there are some bad people growing pot, but have there really been many shoot-outs on these raids?Staff Sgt. Marc Pinault ... inquiring minds want to know. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by afterburner on July 10, 2003 at 09:37:29 PT: Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts. For once Health Minister Anne McLellan got somthing right, patient privacy. Look what the US federal government did to registered medical cannabis suppliers in California. How can we trust a reluctant Canadian federal government and the police not to target growers for punitive sanctions once the "interim" project is suspended or cancelled? Here's an idea: regulate cannabis as a legal product. Then the police can concentrate on border patrol to keep the "chemical warfare" out of the USA. Then large grow-ops can be regulated by municipal business licenses, health, electrical and fire inspections. And for God's sake dispense medical-grade cannabis from pharmacies, not doctor's offices!ego transcendence follows ego destruction, trade equals peace. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment