Health Canada has threatened 13 pot dispensaries with police raids, but a lawyer for a Vancouver compassion club says the agency should back up its demands with details.

The B.C. Compassion Club Society provides medical marijuana to more than 9,000 members. Such compassion clubs and dispensaries are not permitted under federal drug laws.

The agency confirmed it has sent letters to 13 compassion clubs and dispensaries warning of possible raids if they don't comply with several demands by Sept. 21, and also stop selling or advertising the drug.

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A letter sent to the society is dated Sept. 9.

"If the B.C. Compassion Club Society does not immediately cease all activities with controlled substances, we will contact, within 30 days of the date of this letter, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for enforcement action as they deem necessary," it said.

John Conroy represents the society and has fired off a terse letter to Health Canada.

He said the agency has a legal duty under the charter to explain the allegations, especially the suggestion that the society is encouraging Canadians to take part in potentially criminal activity.

Health Canada has not said which dispensaries were singled out or why.

Society spokeswoman Jamie Shaw said the dispensary has been running since 1997 and that it is business as usual while the issues are being worked out.

The federal government was once the sole producer of medical marijuana, but two years ago it began licensing private producers who must follow strict criteria.

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At the same time, illegal marijuana dispensaries have popped up in various cities, most notably Vancouver, where there are more than 100 operating without any approval from the federal government.

In fact, Health Canada wants them shut down, but the City of Vancouver is preparing to hand out business licences and the local police force has said they are not a priority.