Tag Archives: Cannabis

Marijuana-filled cooler worth $24G donated to Goodwill

Cooler full of marijuana donated to a Goodwill in Monroe, Washington. (Monroe (Washington) Police Department via Twitter)
Somebody donated a lot more than they intended to the Goodwill in Monroe, Washington last week. 

Goodwill employees got a surprise when they opened a donated cooler and found marijuana. 

Make that lots of marijuana. 

Monroe police were called in to investigate. 

“(The) employees were surprised when they opened the lid,” the police said in a tweet. 

The Monroe Police Department said the cooler contained 3.75 pounds of pot, with an estimated street value of $24,000. 

Police said Goodwill was examining its surveillance video to see if it can find an image of the person who may have dropped off the cooler.

Original article can be found here

Edmonton to close zoning loopholes for cannabis lounges and pot shop

By: Elise Stolte 

Photo taken by Dab Canada
Edmonton moved to close loopholes in the zoning bylaw Tuesday to ensure marijuana sales can’t happen in corner stores and residential neighbourhoods.
The zoning changes will also specifically ban toking in pubs, a move city planners called “preventative maintenance” to prepare Edmonton for the coming legalization of recreational marijuana use. 

“So operations aren’t able to legitimize blended uses,” said senior planner Colton Kirsop at council’s executive committee. He recommended other zoning changes and smoking bans be delayed until the federal rules are clear so council debate doesn’t “get lost in the weeds.” 

Ottawa is expected in June to introduce legislation regarding recreational marijuana, with legalization to follow in 2019. Based on task force recommendations, it appears it will also legalize cannabis lounges, but ban drinking and smoking there, say city staff. 

The federal government would also regulate the personal production of marijuana, likely to four plants per site, said staff. In addition, it has moved from the term and spelling of “marihuana” to “cannabis.” Edmonton is now using the term “cannabis” for its bylaw.

Les Hagen with Action on Smoking and Health argued at committee any stiff zoning regulations also be applied to tobacco sales, since they are causing more health problems. His concern is increased marijuana use will “re-normalize” smoking. 

Councillors debated whether enforcement costs could be recovered through high business licensing fees. But that’s still unclear. 

“We don’t want to be stuck with ridiculous costs on this,” Coun. Michael Oshry said before committee approved the report, sending the basic zoning changes to a public hearing. 

Zoning changes 

The proposed zoning changes would specifically prohibit the sale and consumption of cannabis in bars, neighbourhood pubs, nightclubs and private clubs. It would prohibit the sale of cannabis from convenience stores and general retail stores, and prohibit the sale, production or shipping of cannabis as a home-based business. 

The changes would also prohibit an area zoned for a greenhouse, garden centre or nursery from being used to grow cannabis. That would only be permitted, if licensed by Health Canada, in areas zoned for urban indoor or outdoor farm, rural or non-commercial farm or urban garden. 

The Health Canada licence prohibits production beside a school, playground or other place frequented by children. 

Edmonton’s zoning regulations would allow a Health Canada licensed production and distribution facility in any areas zoned for general industrial use. 

City officials said any further zoning changes should wait until the federal rules around recreational use become more clear. The federal task force has suggested anyone growing cannabis for personal use should be limited to four plants, which city officials say shouldn’t need further municipal regulations 

What are other cities doing? 

Calgary: A medical marijuana counselling centre where counselling is done by people who are not medical professionals must be located 150 metres from a school and 300 metres from any other centres. 

Toronto: Marijuana production facilities must be 70 metres from a home, institution, school, place of worship or daycare. 

Vancouver: Compassion clubs and medical marijuana retail stores must be 300 metres from a school, community centre or residence and 300 metres from another marijuana facility. Facilities are also banned from areas with vulnerable populations such as the Downtown Eastside. 

Victoria: Any medical marijuana-related business, including bakeries or shops, must be 200 metres from a school and 200 metres from another related business. Hours of operation are limited to 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and there are limits on advertising, a prohibition on using the drug on site, and other security precautions. 

Original article can be found here

Canada’s Justice System Is Crumbling As Cannabis Raids Continue

 

Canada’s justice system is in the midst of a major crisis. Many hundreds of important cases across Canada have been dropped due to a lack of court resources. These include some very serious crimes. 

In Ontario, 6,500 cases in provincial court could soon be dropped due to delays, including 38 for homicide or attempted murder. In one terrible case last year, a man named Kenneth Williamson was convicted of raping a minor over 100 times, but because of lengthy delays in taking his case to trial, his conviction was overturned. 

Late last year, two men had charges of first degree murder dropped because of long delays in getting to trial. In unrelated cases, alleged killers Lance Regan and Adam Picard both walked free from murder charges. Regan was accused of murdering a fellow inmate, while Picard was accused of shooting a man to death during a robbery. 

Cannabis cases clogging courts 

Considering this justice system crisis, cannabis should obviously be the lowest priority for police and the courts, but it’s not. Not only are police launching more raids against dispensaries than ever before, but ridiculous charges for small-scale “cannabis crimes” are continuing from coast to coast. 

Every single one of these cannabis raids is an assault on our justice system.

In Alberta alone, over 200 serious criminal charges have been dropped this year due to clogged courts. Yet I’ve got a two-day hearing in Calgary May 9 and 10, over giving away low-THC cannabis seeds! My trial will begin next year. Seeds for high-potency cannabis plants are openly sold in every Canadian city, including over a dozen outlets in Calgary, but prosecutors are willing to waste precious court resources on me for a free seed giveaway? How absurd. 

The recent raids on Cannabis Culture dispensaries in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton are the result of a lengthy investigation, and have taken months of police work to pursue. Hundreds of hours of precious court time will now be spent on processing and hearing these charges over the coming months and years, along with charges from many dozens of other pointless dispensary cases in other cities. 

Every single one of these cannabis raids is an assault on our justice system. Every dollar spent charging, processing and trying people for cannabis is a dollar taken away from the enforcement of serious laws against violent criminals. 

  Employee Alyssa Vail sits in front of a police vehicle during a police raid of the Cannabis Culture shop in Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday March 9, 2017. (Photo: Darryl Dyck/CP) 

Mandatory minimums and more police 
Back in 2013, the National Post was reporting on the clogged-courts problem, noting that “the recent introduction of mandatory minimum sentences” was also a big part of the problem, as they delay trials and “give greater incentive for charges to be more vigorously and aggressively fought.” Yet Trudeau hasn’t done anything to get rid of Harper’s vicious mandatory minimums, even though his party voted against them when Harper was passing the legislation. What’s he waiting for? 

Meanwhile Bill Blair, Trudeau’s spokesperson on cannabis, is telling us that the biggest impact of legalization will be that “we’re going to have to ask more of the police.” How can this be? Under what rational form of legalization will we need even more police to arrest more people? If cannabis legalization doesn’t mean a massive reduction in police time spent on cannabis, then it’s not really legal at all. 

Alleged killers are walking away without trial while dispensary raids are accelerating and minor cannabis cases are getting high priority. Now Trudeau’s spokesperson is saying we’ll need more cops after legalization than ever before! This is not what Canadians voted for, and after having had a year in office to fix these problems, Justin Trudeau should be ashamed of himself. 

Original article can be found here

RCMP says Nanaimo pot dispensaries “on notice” after recent raid

 Nature’s Source Dispensary,Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW 

NANAIMO — After another pot shop raid, Nanaimo RCMP say all dispensaries in the city are on notice. 

On Thursday, March 9, police raided Nature’s Source Dispensary in the 600 block of Fifth St. RCMP Cst. Gary O’Brien said two were arrested with 15 lbs. of marijuana and $2,000 in cash seized. 

O’Brien said the raid was triggered by numerous concerns. 

“In this particular case, this storefront was located about 500 metres from a local elementary school (Georgia Avenue Elementary). It was also generating a significant amount of foot and vehicle traffic. Nearby residents were also complaining to use and they were saying it was disrupting their enjoyment of their neighbourhood.” 

This was the second raid is less than a month. 

O’Brien said police action at this rate can be expected since they’ve got a stronger handle on the fentanyl and carfentanil situation in Nanaimo. 

“It’s still a significant issue in our community but we recognize that we’ve identified the lines of who is distributing it. At this time we can safely commit some resources and time and energy to deal with the store front issue,” he said. 

The two employees arrested and charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking will appear in Nanaimo Provincial Court on Tuesday, Aug. 8. 

Original article can be found here

Aurora Begins Construction on 800,000 Square Foot “Aurora Sky” Expansion

Aurora presents Aurora Sky (CNW Group/Aurora Cannabis Inc.)
World’s Largest, Most Advanced, Automated Cannabis Production Facility Strategically Located in Leduc County, Alberta

 

TSXV: ACB

VANCOUVER, Nov. 30, 2016 /CNW/ – Aurora Cannabis Inc. (the “Company” or “Aurora”) (TSXV: ACB) (OTCQB: ACBFF) (Frankfurt: 21P; WKN: A1C4WM) is pleased to announce that it has broken ground, and initiated construction on an unprecedented 800,000 square foot production facility. To be known as “Aurora Sky”, the new hybrid greenhouse facility, with a footprint larger than 16 football fields, is expected, on completion, to be the largest, most advanced and most automated cannabis production facility in the world. Situated on 30 acres of leased land in Leduc County, Alberta, management anticipates Aurora Sky to be capable of producing in excess of 100,000 kilograms of high quality, low cost cannabis per year. The location of the new facility provides unrivaled access to transportation, industrial infrastructure, power, water, gas, and courier services.

The Company, which currently operates a 55,200 square foot purpose-built facility in Mountain View County, Alberta, has selected a closed-system, hybrid greenhouse concept of Dutch design for the expansion. This system will give Aurora’s cultivation specialists precision control over all critical environmental variables to ensure production quality is consistent with the Aurora Standard. The high level of automation at Aurora Sky, management believes, will provide for ultra-low per-gram cost of production. In addition, the modular nature of the design will allow for a rapid construction process, minimizing the risk of potential delays, with completion of the new facility targeted for October of 2017. Construction of the facility’s pre-engineered structure has been underway in the Netherlands since October, 2016.

Massive Scale, High Quality, Low Cost Production

“Our objectives are very clear: to build the largest production capacity, with the highest production quality and the lowest production cost,” said Steve Dobler, P. Eng., President. “We spent the past year evaluating and selecting the world’s best design concept for cannabis production on a massive scale. We are confident that the Aurora Sky project will achieve all of our key objectives, and further establish Aurora as an innovator and world leader in the cannabis sector.”

World-leading Design and Supply Partners

The Aurora Sky project team includes designers and suppliers with impressive track records from the very best greenhouse projects around the world, collectively holding several patents and protected design integration techniques, including  Larssen Ltd, KUBO, Verkade, PDI, PB Tech, Codema and PRIVA.

Design features of the Aurora Sky project include:

  • Forced air, bottom-fed positive pressure grow facility with supplemental sun through a specialized glass roof, optimizing micromole levels for cannabis health and yield.
  • The latest in anti-reflective and diffusion glass technologies resulting in greatly reduced fan leaf shadows.
  • Meticulously placed glass in a 4-sided rubber gasket system, minimizing heat and CO2 loss, while eliminating odor escape.
  • Self-cleaning glass with snow melt technology, providing 365-day optimum supplemental sun.
  • All steel in facility will be white powder coated for maximum reflection and GMP compliant cleanliness.
  • A separated condensation system to remove humidity issues common to cannabis growth.
  • Exterior walls with the optimum combination of insulation and light penetration.
  • Rainwater harvest and full re-use technology with the latest UV and mechanical filtration technology.
  • Unique heating and cooling systems for climate uniformity, which balance temperature, air flow and humidity to avoid vapour pressure deficits.
  • Double, self-adjusting, wire driven screens for maximum energy savings, plant protection and 99.9% effective blackout.
  • Highly flexible, component-based, multiple-stage water filtration, irrigation and nutrient delivery with full recirculation and cultivar-specific feeding systems.
  • Electronic, automated climate control.
  • Full “seed-to-sale” tracking systems.
  • Fully automated, mobile platform growing system ensuring plants are positioned optimally for climate, irrigation, light, and growth at all stages.
  • Deployment of cranes and conveyors throughout the facility, providing efficiency and a safe work environment for employees.
  • Latest lighting technology with hybrid HPS and LED installation.
  • Establishment of the world’s first industrial scale Plant Tissue Culture process specific to cannabis.

Additional Expansion Proposed at Mountain View County Location

Concurrent with construction of Aurora Sky, the Company will be proposing a significant, additional production and processing expansion at its existing location near the Village of Cremona, in Mountain View County. On November 23, 2016, after four months of discussions, community engagement and four public meetings hosted by Aurora, the municipal Council of Mountain View County approved a re-designation of Aurora’s current property as a Direct Control District, allowing for the option to expand, subject to Council approval of development plans.

The proposed Mountain View County expansion, would be devoted, in part, to the establishment of a centre of excellence for the propagation of cannabis starting materials for the Leduc County greenhouse and Health Canada licensed home growers. It will also allow for additional cultivation of high-demand medical cannabis strains, large scale expansion of Aurora’s processing of cannabis oils and other derivative products, as well as high-technology upgrades to the Company’s packaging operations.

“It is important to us that we expand responsibly in Mountain View County, where the Aurora story began,” said Terry Booth, CEO.  “Having now received re-designation approval from Council, we will continue with plans to increase and enhance our presence in the County, with additional investment, employment and economic development. Our rate of growth, with rapidly increasing demand for Aurora’s high quality cannabis products, clearly justifies our expansion in both Mountain View County and Leduc County. The Aurora story, and our contribution to the Alberta economy, will now continue to evolve in at least two jurisdictions in this province.”

About Aurora

Aurora’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Aurora Cannabis Enterprises Inc., is a licensed producer of medical cannabis pursuant to Health Canada’s Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) and operates a 55,200 square foot, expandable, state-of-the-art production facility in Mountain View County, Alberta, Canada. Aurora trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “ACB”.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,
AURORA CANNABIS INC.

Terry Booth
CEO

This news release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of such statements under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as “plan”, “continue”, “expect”, “project”, “intend”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “may”, “will”, “potential”, “proposed” and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

The TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Aurora Cannabis Inc

Original article can be found here

Future of Cannabis Culture dispensaries up in smoke after police raids

“Our livelihood, our brand, our money, our inventories all gone!” says owner Marc Emery, after co-ordinated police operation shuts down storefront marijuana shops in Toronto and franchise’s head office in Vancouver 

 Cannabis Culture’s Queen West location was closed after Friday’s police raids. 

The faint smell of marijuana smoke hung in the halls of Old City Hall on Friday, as dozens turned out for the bail hearing of Cannabis Culture dispensary owners Marc and Jodie Emery.

The “Prince and Princess of Pot,” were arrested, along with business partners Chris Goodwin, Erin Goodwin, and Britney Guerra, on Wednesday night and charged with raft of marijuana-related offences, including trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime. The arrests were part of Project Gator, a nationwide operation co-ordinated by Toronto police specifically targeting six Cannabis Culture locations in Toronto and Hamilton, and Cannabis Culture’s magazine offices in Vancouver, where no charges were laid but computers seized. Two Cannabis Culture stores in Ottawa were also raided, though police say those were not connected to Project Gator.

Police seized more than 65 kilograms of cannabis and 2.4 kilograms of concentrates, as well as more than $250,000 in cash, ramping up a police war on dispensaries that has been escalating in recent weeks as the Trudeau government, which has promised a recreational marijuana regime by spring, continues to drag its feet on legalization.  

It’s unclear why Cannabis Culture was targeted. One might interpret Project Gator as a final swipe by the police at the Emerys, who have had a long history of facing off against law enforcement as the faces of the legalization movement in Canada. The couple were front and centre during last May’s Project Claudia raids, with Jodie Emery crashing the police press conference at City Hall to protest the police action. 

But a number of armed robberies of dispensaries in recent months, including at a dispensary on Eglinton West in midtown February 15, has sparked renewed calls from local politicians to shutdown the operations.

And while the Emerys were released Friday, there will be questions about the future of their storefront franchise, which boasts some 19 locations in B.C., Ontario and Quebec.

As a condition of their release, both Marc and Jodie Emery must not aid in the operation of their businesses. The Emerys were given two weeks to extricate themselves from the day-to-day operation of Cannabis Culture or risk violating the terms of their release and being sent to jail.

There are no clear answers on how the stores will operate without the involvement of the Emerys, who have been the face of the franchise. But the couple seem prepared to comply with the terms of their release for now. 

“Jodie and I can no longer be involved with Cannabis Culture stores or the brand, despite it being the culmination of 24 years of hard work and struggle,” wrote Emery in a Facebook post late Friday, that he says was written in an internet cafe after police seized their phones and computers. “You won’t find me at any Cannabis Culture stores, or any dispensary, for that matter. Our livelihood, our brand, our money, our inventories all gone!” 

Emery writes that plans are in the works for a cross-Canada tour in May, but the couple’s current bail conditions forbid them from leaving Ontario. 

According to Emery, Cannabis Culture employees are “keen to take over” the businesses.

Certainly, by Friday afternoon, even before the Emerys had been released, Cannabis Culture’s Church Street store had re-opened, with staff openly defying the police by selling a special strain, “OG Gator,” as a middle finger to the police operation.

“We’re going to re-open every time,” said Chris, an employee at the store, who did not provide a last name. He, along with other employees and the store manager, were present during the raids, but not charged. It was another twist in a day full of them.

What should have otherwise been a fairly routine bail hearing was marked by confusion from the start. First scheduled for 10 am, the start time was pushed back an hour to accommodate the large crowd of supporters in the courthouse. Proceedings were delayed again, because the defendants had not fully read the 50-page summary setting out the charges against them. Shortly after noon, the court learned that the Justice of the Peace assigned to the court had become ill and needed to be taken to hospital, delaying proceedings until after 2 pm, when another justice could be found. All five were eventually released at around 7 p.m. on Friday.

The Emerys will appear in court again on April 21. Their lawyer had initially proposed April 20 (also known as 420, the day reserved for the annual smoke-out at Nathan Phillips Square), but moved the date at Marc Emery’s immediate – and passionate – objection. 

Original article can be found here

Pot shops: Tasty Budd’s owner among those charged by London police in last week’s raids

   Mal McMeekin, Tasty Budd’s franchise founder (Free Press file photo)

The owners of three London pot shops are among eight people charged in a crackdown on marijuana dispensaries. 

But a critic said he doubts the charges announced Friday by London police will hold up in court with Canada set to legalize the drug. 

Five men and three women face a combined 24 counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking following police searches of five marijuana dispensaries across London on March 2. 

Those charged include Mal McMeekin, 34, the Tasty Budd’s franchise founder; Kara Barber, 30, owner of Healing Health; and Charles Colvin, 28, chief executive of the Chronic Hub. 

Police have issued an arrest warrant for McMeekin, a Halifax native who travelled to London in August to open the Wharncliffe Road dispensary. 

McMeekin, who couldn’t be reached for comment Friday, wasn’t charged when police previously searched Tasty Budd’s in the summer. 

Authorities across the country stepped up their battle against dispensaries this week. 

Former Londoner Marc Emery and his wife, Jodie, were released on bail Friday after they were arrested Wednesday at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. 

Police across the country launched a series of co-ordinated searches Thursday of marijuana dispensaries linked to the Vancouver-based marijuana advocates. 

Police seized $250,000 in cash in several currencies after searching seven Cannabis Culture stores and several homes. 

Officers seized more than 65 kilograms of marijuana, 2.4 kg of cannabis extract and other drug paraphernalia. 

Authorities searched Cannabis Culture locations in Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa and Vancouver. By Friday, most of the shops had reopened. 

Emery, 59, faces 15 charges, including conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime, while Jodie Emery, 32, is charged with five similar counts. 

One leading lawyer for marijuana activists says the charges against people swept up in recent searches won’t stick in court. 

“They’ll most likely be dropped or stayed,” Vancouver-based lawyer Robert Laurie said. 

“If the court system is already overstrained . . . dealing with serious crimes, then I honestly think judges are going to be scratching their heads and saying, ‘Why is this in front of me?’ ” 

Dispensaries are illegal under a federal law that limits the sale of marijuana for medicinal use to a few dozen government-approved commercial producers. 

Hundreds of pot shops have sprouted in Canadian cities since the federal Liberals swept to power in 2015 with a vow to bring in legislation this spring to legalize recreational marijuana use and regulate its sale. 

Former Toronto police chief Bill Blair, now a Liberal MP, is the point man on the plan. 

Blair’s recent visit to London on Feb. 28 — just two days before the raids — prompted many to speculate that he delivered the Prime Minister’s message that municipalities should enforce the law when it comes to dispensaries to Chief John Pare. 

But police denied the crackdown had anything to do with Blair’s visit, saying the raids were a response to citizen complaints. 

So far, three of the raided London dispensaries have vowed to reopen. 

Dispensary client Cayla Cornell started a petition demanding city officials allow the shops to operate freely. 

Cornell, 26, said she’s already collected hundreds of signatures for the petition, which is available at the Chronic Hub on Dundas Street. 

The charged:

  • Perry Middaugh, 55, of Markstay
  • Emily Pavlech, 23, of London
  • Kara Barber, 30, of London
  • Fallon Altwasser, 26, of Kitchener
  • Mal McMeekin, 34, of no fixed address
  • Nathan Hall, 26, of London
  • Charles Colvin, 28, of London
  • Paisley Grey, 23, of London 

Original article can be found here

Jodie Emery forced to give up Cannabis Culture

Canada’s “Princess of Pot” has been dethroned.

After her recent arrest along with husband Marc at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport as part of a sting operation targeting Cannabis Culture outlets across the country, Jodie Emery has been set free but with cruel and unusual bail conditions.

Including giving up her life’s work with Cannabis Culture.

In a Facebook post, she recounted her ordeal to supporters:

“I’m finally free, along with my beloved husband and friends, after I spent two long nights in remand and then a women’s jail here in Toronto. It was horrific and degrading and unjust, being stripped naked twice, caged in numerous cells, and put through that entire ordeal but now I know first-hand what so many hundreds of thousands of people have suffered and experienced at the hands of sadistic prohibitionists.”

In order to be released on bail, I am no longer allowed to be the owner and operator of Cannabis Culture — including the magazine, headshops, and vapour lounges. I cannot attend any location, not even our 307 West Hastings Street headquarters, where I’ve spent 13 years devoting my life 100% to ending cannabis prohibition and the drug war worldwide. My advocacy won’t end. My activism won’t stop. But it will all be done as the individual Jodie Emery, not as part of Cannabis Culture, which utterly breaks my heart.

We have had everything taken from us by these actions of the Toronto Drug Squad, Toronto Police, and the Trudeau Liberal government but we have survived cruel injustices before, and we will survive this massive effort to destroy us and our hard work. And I know I can live in peace, knowing that we have NEVER hurt anyone — it’s the prohibitionist government and police who have hurt and even killed millions of people in their drug war — and knowing our decades of activism work has helped millions of people worldwide. The aggressors and oppressors are the evil-doers… we’ve only every been peaceful and passionate in our campaign for true cannabis freedom.

Tomorrow, we hope to get phones so we can speak with family, friends and loved ones. For now, I want to say thank you to everyone who supports us, and I promise that I will NEVER stop pushing for liberty for our people, our culture, and our plant. That’s been the goal all along, even those long hard years of Marc’s 2005-2014 extradition battle and imprisonment, when we had next to nothing, but still gave our all to the marijuana legalization movement.

Sending love to everyone who fights alongside us for freedom.”

Original article can be found here

4 arrested after police bust marijuana dispensary in Kitchener

Police seized large amounts of money, marijuana and hash, as well as edible treats and beverages

Waterloo Regional Police arrested four people Friday after searching a marijuana dispensary in downtown Kitchener. (Colin Butler/CBC News) 

Waterloo Regional Police arrested four people Friday after searching a marijuana dispensary in downtown Kitchener. Police say they initiated an investigation last month into the illegal sale of marijuana and other cannabis products from dispensaries in the region. 

The dispensaries investigated received multiple warnings to suspend operations, police said, noting that the sale of cannabis is illegal unless a distributor is licensed by Health Canada. 

During Friday’s search, police seized large amounts of marijuana, hash, and other cannabis products, like edible treats and beverages, from the dispensary. Money was also seized. 

Three women and one man have been arrested and face charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking.  

Original article can be found here

Project Gator is a crock

By: Andrew Fleming

 

There’s no shortage of ridiculousness regarding the recent Project Gator raids on Cannabis Culture shops across the country. 

There’s the fact that people were thrown in jail due to selling products that are supposedly going to become legal any day now. 

Or that the raids were organized by Toronto police, whose former chief is meant to be the person steering the path towards legalization. 

Or that Vancouver police, who had previously made the principled decision to leave dispensaries alone pending new laws, were evidently happy to do the bidding of their bigger city counterparts. 

Or that the value of LP stock shot up due to the perception this was a victory for Big Pot at the expense of the underground craft cannabis industry. 

Or that Ottawa cops are pretending they weren’t actually part of it and simply happened to raid a newly opened Cannabis Culture shop the same day by coincidence. 

But perhaps the most ridiculous thing about this whole fiasco is the name Project Gator itself. It’s easy to assume it was chosen because alligators are apex predators and some cop – probably the kind of guy who calls his biceps “pythons” – thought it sounded badass. 

Like the trenchcoat-wearing McGruff the Crime Dog, Project Gator would take a bite out of crime! 

 
But it’s worth keeping in mind the Toronto Police Service actually have a history of choosing names for their major investigations quite carefully. For people who regularly spell marijuana as “marihuana,” they have a surprisingly good way with words. 

For example, they named a major drug bust Project Bread Maker because it began at a Dempster Street location and Dempster is one of the country’s biggest bread brands. Project Decepticon was named after a Transformers robot who showed up on ecstasy tablets, and Project Marvel was inspired by suspects who used comic book characters for codenames. 

 
Typically the lead investigator is in charge of picking a handle, but they sometimes ask underlings to come up with suggestions. 

“Yes, sometimes [investigators] agonize over them,” Staff Inspector Randy Franks told the National Post in 2012. “I shouldn’t say we insist, but it’s been a standard that projects come along and they have names… These are serious investigations and if we add a little bit of lightheartedness, it isn’t intended to diminish the seriousness of the investigation.” 

So it’s hard not to wonder about how Project Gator got its name. Here are some possible, albeit unlikely explanations:

  • Alligators aren’t native to Canada, so perhaps this was a subtle dig about the time Canadian police busted Cannabis Culture founder Marc Emery at the DEA’s request for selling seeds through the mail and he ended up serving hard time at federal prisons in Georgia and Mississippi. States that both have alligators.
  • It’s a play on the expression “see ya later, alligator.” Which could work given how frequently Emery finds himself arrested on pot charges.
  • “Project Gator raid” sounds like Project Gatorade and even cops can appreciate a good pun.
  • Project X was already taken.
  • Project Croc would’ve reminded people of “crock” – a word meaning nonsense – and this would’ve been a bit too accurate for this vast waste of taxpayers’ money.
  • Alligators are green. So is weed. Creativity at the T.O cop shop could be slipping.

But I’d like to think someone simply misspelled the word “gaiter,” a garment worn over shoes to keep feet dry. Because Toronto police have just stepped into a river of shit when it comes to popular opinion and they’re probably going to need them. 

Original article can be found here 

Kingston Police Execute Warrant on Pot Dispensary, Six Arrested

On March 9, 2017 members of the Kingston Police Street Crime unit concluded an investigation of a business called Cana Green, located at 342 Princess Street. The business was found to have cannabis related products on-site which they were offering for sale in contravention of the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act. 

Kingston Police obtained a search warrant and at approximately 9:30 p.m. officers from the Street Crime unit assisted by Patrol, executed the warrant. Upon entry officers found 6 persons believed to be employees of the business along with 3 citizens in the store. The 6 individuals deemed to be staff were all arrested and transported to police headquarters. 

Police seized a variety of Cannabis related products including marijuana, black hash, and Shatter, along with a various drug paraphernalia and close to $3500 in Canadian Currency. The value of the marijuana alone is estimated to be approximately $4300. The value of the other illegal drugs is still to be determined. 

The individuals arrested and charged include three Kingston men ages 29, 25 and 25, one Kingston woman age 30, and two Ottawa women ages 22 and 24. 

All six were jointly charged with possession of a controlled substance for trafficking, possession of property obtained by crime. One 25-year-old Kingston man was additionally charged with two counts of breach undertaking. 

Four individuals were released on promise to appear while two were held for bail. 

At a Press Conference today, Chief Larochelle thanked the members of our Street Crime Unit for their hard work and once again stated: “Medical marijuana can only be obtained through registered post after being prescribed by a Doctor. Marijuana dispensaries are illegal and Kingston Police will investigate and act appropriately on any establishments in possession of marijuana.” 

Original article can be found here

Law legalizing marijuana to be introduced this spring, Blair says during Durham visit

Bill Blair Marijuana Discussions | Jason Liebregts / Metroland

DURHAM — Legislation to legalize marijuana will be introduced in the House of Commons this spring, the government’s point man on the file confirmed during a visit to Durham Region Friday. 

“We’re going to keep our promise,” Bill Blair, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Justice, said. “But we’re committed to taking the time to do it right.” 

Blair met March 10 at Durham Region headquarters with local politicians, first responders, public health workers and others as part of a consultative process that’s taken him across the country. The roundtable format allowed local representatives to hear about the government’s progress with legalization, and also to voice their concerns, he said.

“I think their perspective is a really important one and a really valuable one in making sure the regulations and the controls that we put in place are workable at the local level,” said Blair. “All three levels of government have a responsibility here, and working together collaboratively is the way to get this thing done.” 

Central to the government’s rationale for legalization is regulation of a substance that is widely used by Canadians, to encourage “healthful and responsible” use and to wrest control of distribution from criminals, Blair said. The former Toronto police chief said he’s particularly concerned about young people accessing pot, something the current regime of prohibition is failing to prevent. 

“The current system is not particularly effective in keeping this drug away from our kids. And it has in many respects created opportunities for the criminal element to profit enormously,” said Blair. “By taking away the profit from organized crime we believe we can make communities safer. Through control of production and distribution, we can do a better job of restricting youth access.” 

Blair noted that until legislation is passed, police will continue to target storefront dispensaries. Durham police raided shops in Oshawa and Whitby last summer, laying charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking. 

And even after legalization occurs, distribution will be tightly restricted, he said. 

“The law is crystal clear on this. We’re not talking about legalizing the activity that’s taking place in those dispensaries. We’re talking about it being distributed through a licensed, regulated regime, not by criminal profiteers,” he said. “What they’re doing isn’t going to be legalized.” 

In attendance Friday was Marko Ivancicevic, an Oshawa-based marijuana advocate who provides consulting services for medical cannabis users. He said that while Blair’s efforts to consult with Canadians are laudable, he’s concerned they may not be gathering input from everyone with a stake in the issue. 

“They need to get the perspective of everybody that’s going to be affected,” he said. “I think there needs to be a more fulsome discussion with medical marijuana patients and people who have been part of the industry.” 

Ivancicevic said that with legalization pending, police should implement alternatives to charging people with simple possession. 

“Resources and finances are wasted on simple possession,” he said. “I think that has to stop.” 

Original article can be found here

Canna-Green dispensary in Kingston raided overnight

Little information has been released about a reported raid that happened here at the Canna-Green Store on Princess Street. As you can see behind me all signage has been removed and the store is pretty much cleaned out

According to witnesses – several Kingston Police Units including the K-9 Unit raided the store around 10 last night.It’s believed there were at least 6 people inside the store when officers entered.

Sources tell CKWS – 4 of the employees are from Ottawa and others Kingston.

They also say 3 to 5 pounds of marijuana was confiscated along with scales and other drug paraphernalia.

Earlier this week CKWS featured Canna-Green in a story about its opening on Monday.

Staff told us they specialize in selling medical marijuana in various forms to people 19 years of age and older.

Kingston police was asked to comment on the store and they told CKWS there’s a difference between dispensaries and cannabis specialized clinics and that they take the matter very seriously, adding marijuana dispensaries are illegal.”

Original article can be found here

Cannabis Culture Dispensaries Owned By Emerys Tied To Organized Crime: Police

TORONTO — Police in Toronto are accusing Cannabis Culture marijuana dispensaries of being part of a “large franchise operation of alleged high-level drug traffickers.”

Prominent marijuana activists Marc and Jodie Emery — who own the Cannabis Culture brand — were granted bail Friday after their arrest on Wednesday. Marc Emery faces 15 charges, including conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime, while Jodie Emery faces five similar counts.

Officers seized $250,000 in cash in several currencies, 65 kilograms of marijuana and 2.4 kilograms of cannabis extract and other drug paraphernalia after searching seven Cannabis Culture stores and several homes on Thursday, police said.

A man smokes a joint as police officers stand outside the Cannabis Culture shop during a police raid, in Vancouver on Thursday. (Photo: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press) 

Given the amount of marijuana the stores “can only be supplied by illegitimate sources often tied to organized crime,” acting Insp. Steve Watts alleged.

“The public should know that this isn’t an altruistic venture, this is purely a profit-motivated venture,” Watts said. “Anyone with a prescription for marijuana can go through Health Canada, who have an abundant supply.”

Toronto police spokesman Mark Pugash said seven Cannabis Culture locations — five in Toronto, one in Hamilton and another in Vancouver — were searched on Thursday along with two homes in Toronto, one in Stoney Creek, Ont., and one in Vancouver.

The Emerys appeared in a Toronto courtroom on Friday afternoon where they were granted bail with several conditions, including a ban on possessing or consuming marijuana and other drugs except with a prescription.

Marc Emery was previously arrested at one of his new Montreal dispensaries in December and charged with drug trafficking. (Photo: Toronto Star via Getty Images) 

They were also barred from going to any Cannabis Culture location or other dispensary, as well as facilitating or participating in running any Cannabis Culture shop. The Cannabis Culture brand is used by a chain of 19 marijuana dispensaries in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.

The Emerys called on the federal Liberals to stop enforcing the current laws and immediately act on their promise to legalize marijuana. Marc Emery said the high profile role he and his wife have taken in fighting for legalization for more than 20 years is the reason police are targeting them.

“The government fears us,” Emery told reporters minutes after emerging from a Toronto courthouse late Friday. “Our example has been the shining example for 25 years, we have been at the forefront of making this legalization happen.”

“I think this is all part of the struggle and we’ll bear through it well,” Emery added, his wife’s head on his shoulder at times as the couple angrily denounced the governing Liberals.

A Vancouver-based lawyer for the Emerys said in a statement that “several cannabis activists’’ have been arrested in addition to his clients. (Photo: CP) 

In addition to the Emerys, police charged three other people on Thursday. Thirty-seven-year-old Chris Goodwin and 31-year-old Erin Goodwin, both of Toronto, and 29-year-old Britney Guerra of Stoney Creek face charges that include conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

The federal government is moving to legalize marijuana, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized late last year that the current laws exist.

“Our history of enforcing the law against illegal cannabis dispensaries is well established,” Pugash said Thursday. “This is the latest effort in our law enforcement, and I’m certain there will be further action.”

Toronto police also cited safety as a reason for the raids on the dispensaries.

“Our history of enforcing the law against illegal cannabis dispensaries is well established.”

“Included in the sale of marijuana, was shatter, which our officers purchased. Shatter is a distilled marijuana resin that is far more potent,” Watts said.

“It is also dangerous to produce,” he said noting an explosion at a dispensary in August 2016 that blew out windows and left a man injured.

The number of reported robberies of dispensaries in the city is also a community safety concern, he said.

This year alone, there have been seven reported robberies — five involving firearms, Watts said.

“There were three instances where firearms were discharged and, on one occasion, two people were stabbed,” he said.

Original article can be found here

Marc and Jodie Emery out on bail after pot shop raids


A pair of Vancouver marijuana activists have been granted bail after being arrested and charged with several serious criminal offenses following a series of raids on Cannabis Culture locations across Canada.

A lawyer representing B.C.’s so-called “Prince and Princess of Pot” said Marc and Jodie Emery were arrested at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday, hours before police stormed marijuana shops they operate in Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa.

The Emerys have since been charged with drug trafficking, possession, conspiracy and possession of the proceeds of crime. An additional count of failure to comply with a recognizance was also approved against Marc.

They were held in police custody until Friday, when the pair was released on bail with the condition that they must remain in Ontario. They were released only after putting up $30,000 each in bail, and surrendering their passports and travel documents.

Neither is allowed to possess weapons, purchase or consume controlled substances, or traffic or abet the trafficking of marijuana, among other conditions.

Prior to their release, they were held in police custody in Toronto. Their lawyer, Kirk Tousaw, said both were in decent spirits while in jail.

“As decent as you can be in when you’re locked in a cage and your liberty has been restricted and deprived for no good reason,” Tousaw added.

The Emerys intend to fight the charges, which their lawyer described as a waste of the limited resources available to both police and the Crown – particularly with the federal government having pledged to introduce its pot legalization legislation this spring.

“I think history will judge us poorly for prohibition generally and judge us poorly for our actions in the lead up to legalization,” Tousaw said.

“Just because the law is on the books doesn’t mean that police have to enforce and it doesn’t mean the Crown has to prosecute.”

The couple currently operates 20 locations of the Cannabis Culture marijuana dispensary chain, including five in Toronto. Three Vancouver-area shops function as dispensaries, but the fourth, its flagship on Hastings Street, is described as a “vapor lounge.”

Vancouver police have taken a hands-off approach to dispensaries in the city, opting to focus on other investigations unless prompted by a complaint from the public.

They did take part in Thursday morning’s crackdown, but said they only were assisting with search warrants stemming from a Toronto police investigation.

A spokesperson directed all media inquiries to the Toronto Police Service.

During the raid, front windows of the Cannabis Culture storefront on Hastings were covered with brown paper while angry employees demanded answers from police.

One officer remained stationed in front of the front doors, while about a dozen activists held a “smoke out” directly out front.

Store manager Melissa Zorn felt the raid was “nothing more than a political manoeuver.”

“We’ve been operating here since 2005 and we’ve not seen the police step in our building since then,” she said.

Employees vowed not to allow police to leave with items seized during the raid, and sat down in front of the cruisers to block their exit in the alley behind the store.

The raid was one of 11 carried out across the country as part of Project Gator, a “Toronto Police Service project targeting marijuana dispensaries,” according to department spokesperson Const. Caroline de Kloet.

Three other people were arrested in connection with the warrants: pot activists Chris and Erin Goodwin and Britney Guerra. All have since been charged with conspiracy, with additional counts of possession and possession of the proceeds of crime approved against Chris and Guerra.

Erin was also charged with failure to comply with a recognizance.

Tousaw called the actions of police “shameful.”

“Good human beings are being literally locked into cages for cannabis,” he said. “This latest salvo in Canada’s senseless war on cannabis and cannabis consumers is a moral outrage and has no place in a free and democratic society.”

Vancouver Cannabis Culture employee Karina Smeds echoed that sentiment.

“It’s so unjust,” she told CTV Vancouver. “Marc and Jodie have been hassled and harassed by the system for decades.” 

All eight of their Montreal locations were raided in late 2016 and have been temporarily closed, according to the Cannabis Culture website. 

Original article can be found here