Christopher Enns, an outspoken Halifax medical marijuana advocate and shop owner, appeared in court in his own defence on Friday in an attempt to have trafficking charges against him dropped.
Enns was pulled over and arrested during a traffic stop along Highway 7 in Lake Echo, N.S., in November 2017.
READ MORE: Halifax marijuana dispensary owner arrested, charged again
Following a search of his vehicle, police say they seized six pounds of cannabis, around 148 grams of shatter and 500 capsules of cannabidiol.
Police say they seized a large quantity of cash as well.
Enns was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000 and breach of conditions.
He was also given a ticket for speeding, which police say was the initial reason they stopped his pickup truck.
WATCH: Marijuana advocate Chris Enns arrested, facing charges following traffic stop
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Enns was in Dartmouth provincial court Friday for a preliminary hearing during which he’s trying to have the drug charges withdrawn. He says he’s trying to prove that the preliminary inquiry is a waste of court resources based on what he calls “constitutional issues.”
“The main constitutional issues are that patients simply still do not have a right to access derivatives and extracts from a storefront dispensary and nor is there any source of these extracts or edibles available for patients in the current Cannabis Act, medical regime,” Enns said.
Enns was accompanied by a group of supporters, one of whom who was removed from the courtroom for disruptive behaviour.
“There’s still a lot of patients that need help and even doctors now are telling people, ‘You don’t need a licence, just go to the liquor store,’ so there lies a problem if cannabis is a medicine and doctors are referring you to the liquor store and not bothering to educate themselves about the benefits of cannabis,” said Sherri Reeve, who was removed from the courtroom Friday.
All of the evidence heard Friday remains sealed under a publication ban. Enns says he plans on bringing cancer patients he supports through his medical dispensary to his next appearance.
Enns has previously told Global News that he felt his business, Farm Assists on Gottingen Street, was a target of police raids prior to the legalization of cannabis.
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