Police charged five people and arrested a handful of customers inside an illegal London marijuana dispensary in the second raid on the black market business in two weeks.
The OPP and London police carried out a search warrant at the London Relief Centre at 691 Richmond St. last Thursday shortly after 3 p.m., seizing more than $20,000 in cannabis products, the OPP said Wednesday.
Three men and two women, ranging in age from 21 to 36, were charged with possession for the purpose of selling, an offence under the federal Cannabis Act that carries up to 14 years in prison.
Police also detained four customers who were inside the store at the time of the raid, OPP Const. Adam Crewdson said. “Officers did seize some cannabis product from them, however, all four of them were released unconditionally,” he said.
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The two landlords — Mor Holding Corp. and an Ontario numbered company — were charged with permitting a premise to be used for the sale or distribution of cannabis, an offence under the Ontario Cannabis Control Act that carries a fine of up to $250,000 and two years in jail for individuals.
The charges marked the first time police have taken action against London dispensary landlords, a strategy previously used in other Canadian cities.
Police didn’t lay additional charges against the landlord of the London Relief Centre in last week’s raid because they are co-operating with investigators to stop the pot shop operators from reopening, Crewdson said.
“It didn’t make sense to go ahead with those charges again,” he said.
The Richmond Row dispensary was closed Wednesday. A locking gate was placed across the entrance.
Following the Nov. 29 crackdown, Healing Health was open the next day before closing its door nearly two weeks later after coming under pressure from its landlord to leave.
The London Relief Centre had reopened just over a week after the previous raid.
Adults in Ontario can legally buy recreational marijuana only from the government-run delivery service, the Ontario Cannabis Store delivery, until bricks-and-mortar stores open in April.
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The OPP and London police carried out a search warrant at the London Relief Centre at 691 Richmond St. last Thursday shortly after 3 p.m., seizing more than $20,000 in cannabis products, the OPP said Wednesday.
Three men and two women, ranging in age from 21 to 36, were charged with possession for the purpose of selling, an offence under the federal Cannabis Act that carries up to 14 years in prison.
Police also detained four customers who were inside the store at the time of the raid, OPP Const. Adam Crewdson said. “Officers did seize some cannabis product from them, however, all four of them were released unconditionally,” he said.
Related
- Landlord brings down hammer on Healing Health cannabis dispensary
- Lawyer: Why didn’t police prevent raided pot shops from reopening?
- Raided London pot shops reopen as police remain silent
- Raids on illegal London pot shops decried as waste of money
- London police resume raids on illegal marijuana dispensaries
The two landlords — Mor Holding Corp. and an Ontario numbered company — were charged with permitting a premise to be used for the sale or distribution of cannabis, an offence under the Ontario Cannabis Control Act that carries a fine of up to $250,000 and two years in jail for individuals.
The charges marked the first time police have taken action against London dispensary landlords, a strategy previously used in other Canadian cities.
Police didn’t lay additional charges against the landlord of the London Relief Centre in last week’s raid because they are co-operating with investigators to stop the pot shop operators from reopening, Crewdson said.
“It didn’t make sense to go ahead with those charges again,” he said.
The Richmond Row dispensary was closed Wednesday. A locking gate was placed across the entrance.
Following the Nov. 29 crackdown, Healing Health was open the next day before closing its door nearly two weeks later after coming under pressure from its landlord to leave.
The London Relief Centre had reopened just over a week after the previous raid.
Adults in Ontario can legally buy recreational marijuana only from the government-run delivery service, the Ontario Cannabis Store delivery, until bricks-and-mortar stores open in April.
[email protected]
