Pubdate: Fri, 20 Jun 2014
Source: Sentinel Review (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Woodstock Sentinel Review
Contact: http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/letters
Website: http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2385
Author: Tara Bowie
Page: A1

HEMP COUNTRY OWNER FACES DRUG CHARGES

A former Oxford County police officer and the present owner of a 
Dundas Street drug paraphernalia store is facing drug-related charges 
stemming from an OPP check of a building in Burford.

Cherly MacLellan, 56, owner of Hemp Country in Woodstock, was charged 
with producing a schedule II substance other than marijuana after 
police responded to an alarm at the Burford building on Rutherford 
Street at about 2:50 a.m. Wednesday.

The Brant County OPP entered the building to check for possible 
suspects and noticed what police described as "suspicious drug activity."

The OPP organized crime and drug enforcement unit, accompanied by 
Brant OPP officers, searched the building.

Hemp Country, which opened in 2007, is often a place where medical 
marijuana users gather to smoke pot. A sign is often outside the 
store warning people walking by to not come in if they are offended 
by medical marijuana use.

MacLellan, a former Children's Aid Society child protection worker 
and a former police officer in the detective's office with the 
now-defunct Oxford Community Police Service, has spoken to the 
Sentinel-Review several times since the store opened.

In a 2009 story exploring the use of medical marijuana, which 
MacLellan has a licence for, MacLellan said she became disillusioned 
with what she refers to as "drug wars" during her time as a police officer.

"They were helping no one and did nothing," she said. "Drug use has 
only increased. It's much easier for a kid on the street to buy pot 
than alcohol."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom