Nelson Police executed a search warrant on a downtown medical marijuana dispensary and arrested five employees. Five employees at MMJ marijuana dispensary, 752 Vernon Street, were taken into custody Tuesday morning, March 20, without incident. Charges against the employees are pending, said a release from NPD Chief Constable Paul Burkart, adding that all five were released from custody Tuesday afternoon. Until charges are formally laid, Burkart said the NPD will be making no further comment as the investigation is ongoing. A further update can be expected in the next week. [continues 267 words]
The province's opioid crisis is truly frightening. The death totals for 2017, released last week, are record-shattering - with 1,422 dead in B.C., including 200 in the Interior Health region and 19 in the Kootenay Boundary region. About four out of five who died were male and almost nine out of 10 deaths occurred indoors. The powerful opioid fentanyl was detected in 81 per cent of last year's deaths compared to about 67 per cent in 2016. [continues 626 words]
Nelson's top cop is preparing for the legalization of recreational marijuana The woman waiting in the reception area of the Nelson Police Department spots Chief Constable Paul Burkart and calls his name. "Hi Paul," she says. The chief smiles and leans out through the open door, asking, "What can I get for you?" The woman tells him she needs some volunteer security clearance forms. Burkart speaks to an officer in the front dispatch area and asks him to assist the visitor. [continues 657 words]
