Five days after the Saskatoon police raided the Saskatchewan Compassion Club and charged four of its employees with drug trafficking, the service has released a public statement clarifying its reasons for the raid and the arrests. 

Attributed to spokeswoman Alyson Edwards, the release stated that the Saskatchewan Compassion Club, a medical marijuana dispensary in downtown Saskatoon, "was operating without a licence from Health Canada under the Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations."

"It is an offence under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to possess or sell (traffic) marijuana. The compassion club received a letter from Health Canada warning them to stop operation or face legal consequences," the release stated. 

Both statements are laid out in the decisions made prior to laying charges section. 

The Saskatchewan Compassion Club is an unlicensed medical marijuana dispensary that is designed to make it easier for clients with medical marijuana prescriptions to access the plant. 

The police's statement...