Saskatchewan Compassion Club reopens without marijuana

The Saskatchewan Compassion Club has reopened its doors after being raided by Saskatoon police last week but you won't find any marijuana inside.

Police took the unlicensed dispensary's stock when they arrested owner Mark Hauk and three others onThursday. All of them are facing drug-related charges including trafficking and possession. Saskatoon Police say the charges relate to selling marijuana to recreational users and people with marijuana prescriptions. Because the facility is not licensed with Health Canada, any sale of drugs is considered illegal.

Haukwas released on bail and several conditions on Friday, and for now the compassion clubwill focus on providing information to his members.

"I don't have any supply today, Hauk said. "AndI have conditions and of course I'm not going to do anything knowingly todaythat would put me back in jail,because I would be helpless to people if that happens."

Still, Hauk said it's hard not to take what happened personally, despite knowing it's 'much bigger than (he) is".

"Itabout the patients and that's the mindset I'm trying to keep."

In the meantime, Hauk is working with lawyers to bring in more product for his customers.

"I only wanted to help people who needed their medicine," he said.

Hauk also posted video on his Facebook account of an encounter he had with Saskatoon Mayor Don Atchison on Saturday. Hauk and at least two other people confrontedthe mayor while he was at a publicevent atConfederation Mall on Saturday and filmed it.

Hauk expressed anger that the police had arrested him even though he had been open with council about what the compassion club was doing. He also askedthe mayor if he supported the raid.

The mayor responded that it wasn't for him to say and that "the chief follows the laws of the land and I think we need to follow the laws of the land."

Edited version: Mark Hauk confronts Saskatoon mayor

9 years ago

Duration 2:07

Medical marijuana activist Mark Hauk confronts Saskatoon mayor Don Atchison about the police raid on the Saskatchewan Compassion Club.

When contacted by CBC after the exchange, the mayor's spokesperson Richard Brown, who also appears in the video, said Mayor Atchison will not be commenting on this case as it's before the court, and addedit is a federal legal matter.