For the second time in as many days, Regina police raided Best Buds Society.
“It’s very frustrating, you know. We’re providing a public service,” said Pat Warnecke, co-owner of Best Buds Society.
On Wednesday evening, the Regina Police Service raided six dispensaries across the city. Of those six, five remain closed.
But Best Buds Society isn’t giving up. They re-opened Thursday afternoon, and police were back raiding the shop shortly before 7:30 that evening.
But by Friday morning, Best Buds Society staff were back, this time only filling mail orders.
“This definitely isn’t it, this is only the beginning. Now we’re not trying to start a war here, but let’s use some common sense and logic,” said co-owner Stu Martin.
“This will continue to go on, and it will keep on going on, whether it be delivery systems, whether it be mail order systems, or whether it be store fronts opening up. This will continue,” Warnecke reinforced.
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Regina Police aren’t shying away from the challenge. Police had a visible presence in the area Friday, and during a news conference on Thursday, they were quick to point out that the six raids weren’t the end of it.
“We will continue to conduct investigations and if we don’t have compliance, enforcement action will be taken,” Regina Police Service Chief Evan Bray affirmed.
The cycle creates a catch-22 for surrounding businesses, particularly the dance studio across the street. Police asked the studio to cancel classes during their raids, but prior to that, studio employees claim the dispensary was creating a disturbance in the neighborhood.
Now they’re worried that more raids will have an impact on their class schedule.
With Regina police and Best Buds Society both holding firm, there appears to be no end in sight to the cycle of raids and re-openings, or the toll it takes on the community.
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