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As Weed-Friendly Justin Trudeau Prepares to Take Office, Cops Bust Marijuana Ring

Police insist the timing of the charges is not related to the fact that cannabis is set to become legalized under Trudeau’s Liberal government.
Image via Twitter.

Just a few days before Justin Trudeau, Canada's most weed-friendly prime minister, is sworn into office, police carried out two major marijuana crack downs.

Trudeau has promised to "legalize, regulate, and restrict" marijuana in Canada for recreational use — it is already legal for people with medical prescriptions to obtain it by mail through licensed producers approved by Health Canada.

On Friday, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers announced they had arrested 13 people in Nova Scotia and British Columbia in a national marijuana trafficking and money laundering bust following a five-month investigation dubbed "Operation Hagrid" (which police say is unrelated to the Harry Potter character).

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According to a press release, people were flying across the country with marijuana and cash packed in their checked bags. Officers have seized 14 vehicles, over $232,000 in cash, more than 205 pounds of marijuana, as well as cocaine and hash oil.

"These individuals had an established network operating a sophisticated drug distribution chain that has ties to organized crime," Insp. Mike Payne with the Nova Scotia RCMP said in a statement. "Investigators have disrupted this network and as a result of today's arrest, we have ended their activities."

Payne told VICE News that the timing of the charges is not related to the fact that cannabis is set to become legalized under Trudeau's Liberal government.

"The laws currently have not changed … There's nothing more to it than that, frankly," he said. "We received information about some illegal activity and as is our mandate to do, we conducted an investigation, gathered evidence, and laid charges."

Related: Trudeau Hailed 'The Best Thing' That's Ever Happened To Canadian Weed

Trudeau's Liberal platform promises the new government will "remove marijuana consumption and incidental possession from the Criminal Code" and will create a new "federal/provincial/territorial" task force to design a system of "strict marijuana sales and distribution" that will be taxed.

Trudeau is expected to specify the government's regime to regulate the substance, as well as how much the substance will be taxed, soon after he officially forms government.

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In an unrelated case, RCMP and Saskatoon police officers raided a compassion club in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on Thursday and charged four people, including the club owner, with various trafficking and possession charges. The club's doors are locked and all the goods inside have been seized.

Saskatoon Compassion Club was just raided! — Marc Emery (@MarcScottEmery)October 29, 2015

Numerous compassion clubs, which are illegal under federal law, operate across the country to provide easier access to medical marijuana. There are at least 90 medical marijuana dispensaries operating in Vancouver alone.

Saskatoon police and Health Canada had previously warned the Saskatoon compassion club it would take action if it remained open. Health Canada opposes marijuana use in any form, begrudgingly carrying out its medical cannabis system because of a Supreme Court ruling.

Marijuana users and supporters protested outside the Saskatoon courthouse Friday morning where hearings were held for the accused. CBC News reports protesters smoked joints and shouted about their disapproval.

Jeff Lundstrom smokes a joint in front of court, and rants against Compassion Club bust — dan zakreski (@dannyzcbc)October 30, 2015

Detective Insp. Dave Haye also dismissed any speculation that the timing of the raid was somehow linked to the upcoming change in government. "This has nothing to do with any politics … They are marijuana trafficking so they are drug traffickers," he told reporters, adding that the investigation began last month, and is not meant to target the club's customers.

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Related: The Canadian Government Wants Police to Raid Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

But John Conroy, a lawyer in BC who represents clients in marijuana-related criminal cases says the timing is relevant. "It's worth noting the timing, a few days before we get a new minister," he said. "If this is a straight-up compassion club, what the police have done is created a situation where finally the issue of dispensaries will be taken through the court."

A number of the club's customers, including patients with cancer and Crohn's disease, say they will be forced to turn to the black market to get their supply.

Craig Jones, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws in Canada (NORML), a pro-marijuana group, said in an interview he will be pushing whoever becomes Canada's new justice minister to strike cannabis from Canada's Controlled Drugs and Substances Act — a move that would decriminalize the drug.

"We would also like to see the new prime minister issue the public prosecution services of Canada a stand-down order when it comes to cannabis cases," he said.

Follow Rachel Browne on Twitter: @rp_browne