15 charged in Kensington Market Canna Clinic dispensary raid

More than a dozen people have been charged following a Toronto police raid on a Kensington Market marijuana dispensary.

Police said Tuesday that a search warrant was executed at a Canna Clinic location at about 6:30 p.m. on Monday.

Police say they seized nearly 170 kilograms of marijuana, as well as 14.5 kilograms of marijuana oil and nearly five kilograms of a marijuana derivative known as shatter. More than $14,400 was also confiscated, police say.

Fifteen people, nearly all Greater Toronto Area residents in their 20s, are facing seven counts each.

They are charged with three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, three counts of drug possession and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

They are expected to appear in court on Oct. 23.

In June, 80 people were arrested in co-ordinated raids on Canna Clinic locations in Toronto and Vancouver. The Toronto investigation, dubbed Project Lincoln, was a partnership between Toronto police, the RCMP and the city’s Municipal Licensing and Standards division.

In the weeks that followed, an additional 28 people were arrested in connection with raids on Canna Clinic locations on Yonge Street, Ossington Avenue and Eglinton Avenue.

Toronto police spokesperson Mark Pugash declined to say what led to the most recent raid and whether it was connected to previous investigations.

“I can’t go into evidence — that will emerge during the course of a court hearing,” he said. “But we’ve said we will continue to enforce the law and that’s what we did last night.”

Pugash said police are tackling the city’s marijuana dispensaries as evidence and police resources allow.

“There are people making huge amounts of money from breaking the law,” he said. “They’re endangering the public with selling dangerous products.”