Pubdate: Sat, 11 Feb 2017
Source: Truro Daily News (CN NS)
Copyright: 2017 The Daily News
Contact:  http://www.trurodaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1159
Page: 5

POLICE LAY CHARGES FOLLOWING SEARCH OF AMHERST BUSINESS

A month after it opened, a downtown business specializing in marijuana
paraphernalia was searched by police on Thursday.

Dr. Greenthumb was searched by members of the Cumberland Integrated
Street Crime Enforcement Unit on Thursday with assistance from the
Amherst Police Department.

This whole pending legislation has created a challenge for police
across the country. Some people are trying to get ahead of it because
the government is saying legislation is coming, but it's not here and
they have to be patient and wait for the legislation. Ian Naylor,
Amherst Police Chief

A quantity of cream and liquid, suspected to contact alleged
cannabidiol, was seized and a 33-year-old Dieppe, N.B. man arrested
and charged with possession and trafficking in a controlled substance.

He was later released from custody and will appear in provincial court
March 27.

"We received some complaints regarding the business and we entered
into an investigation," Const. Tom Wood of the Amherst Police
Department said.

"With any investigation, it takes some time to conduct."

Wood said police took the time to assess the situation as it relates
to the community, adding the decision to act was based on public
safety and the safety of the community.

Dr. Greenthumb opened quietly in early January in the former Your
Place Fitness Salon. The headshop sells paraphernalia such as bongs
and pipes as well as T-shirts, but it was the alleged sale of products
containing CBD that has the store in hot water.

While the federal government is moving toward legalizing marijuana,
Wood said it is still illegal to possess or sell the product under the
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

He said police met with the Public Prosecution Service and decided to
move forward.

"The current legislation is still in effect and CBDs are illegal under
Schedule 2 of the CDSA," Naylor said. "This whole pending legislation
has created a challenge for police across the country. Some people are
trying to get ahead of it because the government is saying legislation
is coming, but it's not here and they have to be patient and wait for
the legislation."

Questioned as to why police would act now and not when the store
opened Naylor said police have been clear from the start that they
would act if there were any illegal activity.
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