WARMINGTON: Toronto police boot out illegal dispensaries
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They can’t say they were not warned!
They were.
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They can’t say they were not given the opportunity to partake in the legal weed game.
That opportunity was available to them as well.
What they can say is they clearly misread the resolve of government and law enforcement to crack down on black market marijuana in favour of the new legalized pot now available for sale.
That was on full display. Message sent. Message delivered.
Five illegal pot dispensaries were shut down by Toronto Police Friday. These locations were at 66 Fort York Blvd., 333 Spadina Ave., 912 Danforth Ave., 1506 Dundas St. W. and 2655 Lawrence Ave. E.
“Nothing has changed since before (legalization day on Oct. 17),” said Toronto Police spokesperson Gary Long.
“The selling of marijuana through these places was illegal before that day and it’s still illegal today.”
He reminded the public that Premier Doug Ford’s government gave those operating dispensaries the heads up that they needed to cease operations immediately while offering them a chance, if they complied, to apply for a legal cannabis sales licence which would allow them in on the market in about six months.
“Anyone operating a storefront after Oct. 17 is doing so illegally,” Ontario’s office of the Attorney General said in a release last week. “Failure to comply with the rules, whether provincial or federal, would preclude someone from obtaining a Retail Operator’s Licence.”
There was no ambiguity there.
“Until they have a licence they are not legally allowed to sell it,” said Long. “The legal way is through the Ontario Cannabis store.”
What is interesting about these charges compared to such raids prior to the legalization is they now fall under the provincial Cannabis Act. They are not criminal code charges, but provincial offences that come with stiff fines. In this case, eight budtenders were charged under the new act. Unlike before with criminal code charges, police say they will not be releasing the names of those associated with the raids.
Illegal drug sales are still enforced by Toronto Police’s drug squad and convictions under this act still will put people on the sidelines of applying for a legal retail outlet when they go online in the spring.
So, five down and how many more to go?
Well, there are a lot more of them out there which must see the writing on the wall? It’s not like before when police felt kind of bad about busting these places as the date to legalize was looming. This is different now. There is a legal market for marijuana available to consumers and these storefronts are not part of that. The message to those who did not get Friday’s message is even louder and clearer than it was before.
“The Toronto Police Service will continue enforcement and would like to remind those operating illegal dispensaries that if they choose to stay open, they do so at their own risk,” said a news release.
In other words, keep your eye on the door and get your cheque book ready.
It’s not like you weren’t warned.
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