Slocan Lake RCMP say they won’t press drug charges against two residents of a Rosebery home who were members of a compassion club.
Last Tuesday, conservation officers were investigating wildlife offences, and went to a home on DeRosa Drive to speak with a resident.
The officers learned the home had a marijuana grow operation, but the resident told them he had a compassion club card and therefore believed it was authorized.
Conservation reported the incident to RCMP, who inquired with Health Canada and determined that neither the property nor its occupant was authorized to produce or possess marijuana.
Police visited the home the same day, seized 14 immature plants, and arrested two people.
“While speaking with one of the occupants, it was learned the individual was suffering from chronic illness and pain,” says Cst. Shaun Foley. “The subject also genuinely believed that their compassion club card authorized their possession of marijuana.”
Foley says as a result, police used their discretion and decided not to proceed with charges. They did tell the pair that only Health Canada can authorize production and possession of medicinal marijuana, and were provided with information on the application process.
This situation, Foley adds, “is an example of how police are not always quick to pursue criminal charges, but rather consider the totality of the circumstances to decide whether charges are warranted.
“In this situation, it was clear that one of the persons was suffering from chronic pain and illness and that they were simply misinformed or misguided previously on how to seek authorization to use marijuana as a treatment.”
The incident comes on the heels of a Pass Creek woman with a license to grow pot being arrested for allegedly having too many plants.