Alberta woman arrested over single marijuana plant

Possessing a single marijuana plant has landed a woman from Hanna, Alta., in hot water with police.

RCMP executed a search warrant at a home in Hanna, about 200 kilometres northeast of Calgary, on Saturday where they found one marijuana plant and equipment used for growing. 

Police seized the plant and the equipment and arrested a 48-year-old woman at the home. She was charged with production and possession of marijuana.

She was released and is scheduled to appear in court April 26.

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A single plant may seem like a paltry amount, especially with legalization looming, but marijuana is still illegal, said Cpl. Laurel Scott.

"We don't always know what we're going to uncover inside a residence," she said.

"In this case, yes it was one plant, so it was maybe not what they expected to uncover."

The Liberal government is expected to introduce legislation in the House of Commons this week which, if passed, will make marijuana legal in Canada, possibly by next year.

But until that happens, it remains against the law to possess, use, buy or sell marijuana, said Scott, a law police will continue to enforce.

The arrest provoked criticism of the police on social media, including from pot activist Dana Larsen.

And High! Canada tweeted, "Come on?! This is getting downright absurd!"

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