Marijuana advocates light up and protest at Saskatoon police station

Marijuana advocates rallied and lit up joints in front of Saskatoon police headquarters Saturday afternoon, protesting charges laid against the city's Compassion Club owner Mark Hauk.

The Saskatchewan Compassion Club, in Saskatoon's downtown, is an unlicensed medical marijuana dispensary designed to make it easier for users to obtain medical pot.

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Hauk and his colleagues were arrested Thursday and charged with drug trafficking and other offenses. On Friday, Hauk was released on $1,000 bail after appearing before a judge in provincial court.

"What a crazy waste of resources," Hauk said of the surprise tactic used by police. "My phone is on [and] I answer my e-mails. Why the craziness of a project and storming in there with 10 drug officers undercover? It's madness." 

On Saturday, Hauk was on hand with about 75 people who set up in front of the police headquarters displaying a bag of weed and a small bong on a table. The rally also attracting people who waved placards denouncing the raid and showing support for the club.

Denise Rollheiser was amongst the group of protesters sporting a sign that read, "Closing Collectives Harms Patients."

As a user for pain purposes, Rollheiser said she hopes the rally will bring more attention to the accessibility issues that some patients face when looking to obtain medical marijuana.

Hauk said that's one of the reasons for the club. Patients don't have access to a variety of marijuana products through existing programs.

"Talk to these patients here that need edibles, cannabis oils, topicals and capsules," Hauk said. "There is no legal place to buy that medicine. It's the whole point of our club existing."

Hauk said he plans to reopen the Compassion Club on Monday although the marijuana component of the club has been curtailed.

"There is a lot of work for us to do there outside of us dispensing [medicinal marijuana] and I'm happy to be back there Monday and do that," he said. 

Hauk said he is confident he will not be convicted of the charges he faces.