Saskatchewan Compassion Club signs up 100 new members

Mark Hauk said he couldn't be happier after Week 1. 

The man behind The Saskatchewan Compassion Club, an organization that assists people in medical need get a prescription for marijuana, said he had about 100 new members sign up this week. That brings the total to about 175 people, he said. 

• Saskatoon man opens city's first medical marijuana dispensary

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He said he has had nothing but positive feedback after opening Saskatoon's first medical marijuana dispensary on Monday. He's gone looking for negative feedback, but said he couldn't find any.

"None. Honestly, none," he said. 

However, National Access Cannabis (NAC), an Ottawa-based organization, is warning Saskatoon residents about the dangers of buying marijuana from unregulated dispensaries. 

"The product you're getting might not be safe," VP of communications for National Access Cannabis Colin Trethewey said about buying marijuana from unregulated dispensaries. 

He said that the government regulated marijuana the NAC dispenses goes through rigorous testing for contaminants and mould. 

Hauk said he doesn't dismiss the NAC's concerns, adding that if he could, he'd distribute drugs from Health Canada as well. 

"The [compassion club] model has been around for a long time without causing harm to the community," Hauk said.