Organized crime groups like the Hells Angels and the Mafia saw plenty of opportunities after Canada announced it would allow the production of cannabis for medical purposes, according to RCMP intelligence documents obtained by The Star.“There is no shortage of organized criminal groups who have applied to produce Medical Marihuana (MM)…,” according to a March 2013 police report, titled “Mexican Cartels are Legitimizing their Operations by Taking over Resource Production and Exportation.”The internal RCMP report also stated that Mexican cocaine cartels were pushing into the mining industry and showing interest in swallowing up Canadian resource businesses. “Canadian law enforcement should be alert to the degree to which Mexican cartels are consolidating, expanding traditional drug trafficking operations and taking over Mexican resource extraction and exportation because Canadian resource industries may be attractive targets in the cartels efforts to launder illegal profits and legitimize their operations,” the report states.The report was drafted by the RCMP’s Federal Serious and Organized Crimes section, based in British Columbia.It came before the then-Conservative federal government changed the rules for medical marijuana on March 31, 2014, allowing Canadians who need the drug to get a doctor’s prescription instead of a licence from Health Canada.The current Liberal government legalized cannabis sales last October.Asked whether the force still held the concerns shown in its 2013 report, Sgt. Marie Damien of RCMP headquarters in Ottawa said organized crime “is constantly evolving, increasing in complexity and reach.”“This situation is not unique to Canada,” she said, adding organized crime groups “will exploit any and all opportunities.”The report stated the organized crime groups including the Hells Angels, traditional mobsters and Mexican drug cartels showed plenty of in ...
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