Pubdate: Fri, 10 Mar 2017 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2017 Postmedia Network Inc. Contact: http://www.theprovince.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Authors: Dan Fumano and Nick Eagland Page: 6 EMERYS ARRESTED AFTER POT SHOP RAIDS Dispensaries: First couple of cannabis face multiple charges after police operations in B.C. and Ontario Marc and Jodie Emery, Vancouver's first couple of cannabis, have been arrested as police across the country raided seven of the couple's Cannabis Culture marijuana dispensaries, including a shop on West Hastings and a residence in Vancouver. The Emerys were charged Thursday with drug-related offences in Toronto after raids in Toronto, Hamilton and Vancouver. They are due back in Toronto court this morning. The self-styled "Prince" and "Princess" of pot were arrested Wednesday as they went to board a plane at Toronto's Pearson International Airport for a cannabis expo in Spain. Marc Emery faces 15 counts, including conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime. Jodie Emery is charged with five similar counts. The pair is accused of trafficking marijuana between May 27, 2016, and Thursday, according to an indictment in a Toronto court. The Emerys are also alleged, between May 27, 2016, and Thursday, to have conspired to commit an indictable offence "by entering into an agreement to run a franchise whose main purpose is the trafficking of controlled substances." They are alleged to have committed conspiracy in B.C., Ontario and Quebec, where Cannabis Culture has opened more than 15 dispensaries and lounges. The Emerys own the Cannabis Culture brand, which is used by 19 marijuana dispensaries in B.C., Ontario and Quebec. The arrests and raids were a Toronto police operation, spokesman Mark Pugash said, that included the execution of 11 search warrants under the Criminal Code and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the arrests of five people. On Thursday morning, a dozen Vancouver police officers, acting for Toronto police, raided the Cannabis Culture headquarters on West Hastings Street. Pugash said search warrants were also executed Thursday at three Cannabis Culture stores in Toronto and one in Hamilton. Four warrants were executed at residences in Toronto, the Hamilton area and in Vancouver. Three others were charged. Chris Goodwin, 37, and Erin Goodwin, 31, both of Toronto, and Britney Guerra, 29, of Stoney Creek, Ont., face charges that include conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. B.C. solicitor general Mike Morris said he is worried that the federal promise of decriminalization of marijuana has confused the public as it remains illegal in the meantime. "The law is the law, so if somebody is breaking the law, the police need to take whatever action they deem necessary," he said. "The sooner the feds come out with the legislation, the sooner we can get on determining what direction we need to do." Federal Health Minister Jane Philpott said Thursday that her government remains committed to introducing legislation on the matter this spring. Victoria cannabis lawyer Kirk Tousaw called the raids and arrests the "latest salvo in Canada's senseless war on cannabis." "That we continue to waste resources and ruin lives in the pursuit of the futile goals of cannabis prohibition is immoral and a national disgrace," he said. - - With files from Rob Shaw, Kim Bolan, Glen Schaefer, Scott Brown, Matt Robinson, Postmedia News and The Canadian Press - --- MAP posted-by: Matt