Pubdate: Sat, 15 Apr 2017
Source: Hamilton Spectator (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 The Hamilton Spectator
Contact:  http://www.thespec.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/181
Author: Ryan Thorpe
Page: A5

POLICE RAID GEORGIA PEACH POT DISPENSARY

Hess Village enterprise back in business Thursday, day after visit by
drug squad

Hamilton police have seized about $21,000 in products from a Hess
Village marijuana dispensary and charged a 49-year-old man with four
drug-related offences.

The Hamilton police vice and drug unit executed a search warrant at
Georgia Peach Dispensary on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. The shop is
located at 105 George St.

Police allege the owner of the dispensary was "committing the criminal
acts of possession for the purpose of trafficking marijuana and THC"
by selling or giving marijuana or marijuana derivatives to clients.

Items seized include edible THC products and processed
marijuana.

Alex Balgimbay, who witnesses the raid, said it lasted 20 to 25
minutes.

Prior to the raid, the dispensary advertised on Twitter it operated
under the compassionate care model, meaning the business did not
require customers to have a valid medical marijuana licence.

"We will serve you on compassionate grounds if you don't possess a
government license 18+," reads the tweet.

Storefront marijuana dispensaries remain illegal in
Canada.

The federal government proposed on Thursday to overhaul drug laws to
legalize pot and sales by next year.

The business had reopened by Thursday morning and within 15 minutes,
at least 10 people had entered the shop.

The 49-year-old owner of the store has been charged with possession of
marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, possession of THC for the
purpose of trafficking, possession of resin for the purpose of
trafficking and proceeds of crime under $5,000.

Police didn't release the owner's name because he's expected to answer
to the charges in court at a later date.
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MAP posted-by: Matt