Pubdate: Sat, 11 Mar 2017
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.torontosun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Kevin Connor
Page: 4

WEED 'ROYALTY' FREED

Emerys out on $30Gs bail in wake of pot shop cop raids

The "Prince" and "Princess" of pot scored bail of $30,000 each on
Friday.

Marc and Jodie Emery - who own the Cannabis Culture brand - were
arrested at Toronto International Airport Wednesday while travelling
to a pot festival in Spain.

Police seized $250,000 in cash in several currencies, 65 kilos of
marijuana and 2.4 kilos of cannabis extract and other drug
paraphernalia after searching seven Cannabis Culture stores - five in
Toronto - and several homes Thursday, Toronto Police said.

They're accusing Cannabis Culture marijuana dispensaries of being part
of a "large franchise operation of alleged high-level drug
traffickers."

Given the amount of marijuana, the stores "can only be supplied by
illegitimate sources often tied to organized crime," acting Insp.
Steve Watts alleged.

"The public should know that this isn't an altruistic venture, this is
purely a profit-motivated venture," Watts said. "Anyone with a
prescription for marijuana can go through Health Canada, who have an
abundant supply."

At least four Cannabis Culture stores in Toronto were back in business
Friday.

Marc Emery faces 15 charges, including conspiracy to commit an
indictable offence, trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime,
while Jodie Emery faces five similar counts.

A justice of the peace presiding over the bail hearing fell ill,
vomiting, and was taken to hospital during Friday's proceeding.

Another justice of the peace took over in the afternoon.

The pair were released Friday night, along with three others who
worked at Cannabis Culture locations.

The Emerys have several bail conditions, such as not being allowed to
distribute, possess or consume pot without a prescription.

They're also prohibited from attending any marijuana dispensary and
were ordered to surrender their passports.

"This is an injustice we are used to and we will bear it well," Marc
Emery said. "The government is trying to take the industry away from
us."

Emery dismissed the raids as a waste of time.

The Emerys and their co-accused will be back in court on April
21.

- - With files from The Canadian Press
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt