Nine people are facing drug charges after police raided a Queen St. compassion club that sells medical marijuana to patients suffering from chronic diseases, including HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

At about 3 p.m. Wednesday, plainclothes officers from 51 Division raided the headquarters of CALM, or Cannabis As Living Medicine, located at 106 Queen St. E.

The nine people arrested include club owner Neev Tapiero and patients who are federally licensed to possess marijuana, said CALM’s lawyer Ron Marzel.

Marzel said police were well aware that CALM only distributes marijuana for medical purposes, saying he is “appalled” by the police action. He has yet to speak with the lead detective and said he has no idea what prompted Wednesday’s raid.

“Organizations like this have existed for a long time. It’s not a surprise to the police force that these organizations exist,” Marzel said, adding that CALM is actively lobbying for clearance from Health Canada to sell medical marijuana. “In my assessment, this is a totally inappropriate response to an organization that is seeking legitimization to help sick people.”

Tapiero said this is the first time police have raided CALM since the club was established 14 years ago, in 1996. The compassion club has about 3,000 registered members and about ten percent have federally-issued cards permitting them to possess medical marijuana. The rest have written approval from a doctor, chiropractor or naturopath, Tapiero said.

Police involved in the raid could not be reached for comment on Friday but a 51 Division staff sergeant confirmed that a warrant had been executed at CALM by plainclothes officers. According to a police document obtained by the Star, police seized 16,589 grams of marijuana, 1,940 grams of hashish, and 207 grams of hash oil, the sum of which has an estimated street value of $218,404. A quantity of cash was also seized, according to the document.

Marzel said one person manning the door at CALM was knocked down and injured by police during the raid. Two of the nine arrested were also detained overnight, including Tapiero, but released Friday on bail. CALM has been closed since the raid but a justice of the peace has permitted club managers to re-enter the premises.

Tapiero said CALM is just one of several compassion clubs in Toronto and he doesn’t know why his establishment was suddenly targeted. He acknowledged compassionate clubs operate within a kind of legal grey zone but police have generally turned a blind eye towards establishments such as CALM.

For CALM member Kim, who declined to give her last name, she fears what would happen if CALM were to shut down. The 48-year-old single mom is on disability and suffers from several maladies, including fibromyalgia, and the pain gets so overwhelming she can’t think or sleep.

But Kim dislikes prescription painkillers like OxyContin, which leave her feeling groggy. She prefers medical marijuana, which soothes her pain without robbing her of her functionality.

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CALM is planning to hold a protest rally in response to the raid at Allan Gardens at 1 p.m. on April 11.