Toronto: 23 people arrested in raids on dispensaries

The City of Toronto continues its hunt for cannabis dispensaries. During last Thursday's raids, police seized 289,000 $ of marijuana, hash, and oil, and 30,000$ in cash.

A city official took the opportunity to reiterate that «dispensaries are not permitted at all. Only licensed producers are allowed, and only those located in industrial zones.».

The situation in Canada involves cannabis regulations which is expected to be relaxed in the spring of 2017, and dispensaries that are already selling recreational cannabis. The dispensaries are anticipating legalization by opening multiple locations and taking advantage of «recreational» legislation that does not yet exist, while municipalities remain steadfast in their position, waiting for the federal government to tell them what to do, and are therefore cracking down on dispensaries, both old and new.

Among the dispensaries that were attacked was Cannabis Culture, owned by the «Prince of Pot,», Marc Emery. In fact, he returned to Toronto to stand by his employees and reopened his dispensary less than 24 hours after it had been ransacked by police.

He held a press conference in front of his dispensary and confirmed that he «had no intention of letting the government take over our industry. Anyone who loves cannabis should be able to use it, grow it, and sell it.».

These raids did not stop customers from stocking up on cannabis as early as Friday morning, when Cannabis Culture opened. Customers walked in with cash in hand to buy their weed. The only requirement is to prove that you are 19 years old to be served. And that’s where the problem lies. These dispensaries are currently violating a law that will soon allow them to sell cannabis legally.

Emery questions Police Chief Mark Saunders' motives for authorizing these raids.

«Saunders doesn’t seem motivated by these raids, nor does he seem upset,» he said. «I don’t think the chief is really the one calling the shots in this case. He’s taking orders from someone else and doesn’t want to admit it.».

Three of Marc Emery's employees were arrested on Thursday and are expected to appear in court soon. The police also confiscated cake pans, flour, and syringes of’THC oil.

«[Thursday] felt a little surreal,» said Natasha Grimshaw, one of the employees at Cannabis Culture, who has been working there for three weeks. «But it’s also very exciting to be part of a movement that’s going to change the history of Canada.».

In the game of cat and mouse, unfortunately, it’s often the cat that wins. Even though we always hope the mouse will make it out alive!