CANADA:  Health Minister Rona Ambrose ordered a crackdown on groups that illegally advertise marijuana and re-stated the Conservative party’s pledge to keep storefront dispensaries illegal Saturday on the eve of the expected launch of a federal election campaign.

“Today I directed Health Canada to create a task force to crack down on illegal marijuana advertising,” Ambrose said in a statement.

“This task force will ensure that those who engage in such illegal activities are stopped, and should these illegal activities continue, promptly referred to law enforcement.”

Health Canada issued a statement saying it will begin actively monitoring marijuana advertising instead of acting mostly on the basis of complaints.