Menu

Topics

Connect

Comments

Comments closed.

Due to the sensitive and/or legal subject matter of some of the content on globalnews.ca, we reserve the ability to disable comments from time to time.

Please see our Commenting Policy for more.

Crackdown continues against illegal cannabis stores in Hamilton

Hamilton police have shut down 12 unlicensed cannabis dispensaries since Jan. 11, 2019, while 16 others have closed voluntarily. Ken Mann/Global News

Across Hamilton, 14 illegal cannabis dispensaries remain in operation.

Story continues below advertisement

Deputy Police Chief Dan Kinsella provided the city’s police services board with that update on Thursday afternoon while adding that the service remains “steadfast” and “committed” to shutting them all down.

Kinsella also says that investigators are dealing with the new phenomenon of “pop-up dispensaries,” as operators look to thwart their enforcement efforts by setting up shop at a location for a day or two, before closing down again.

WATCH BELOW: Toronto police raid 5 illegal dispensaries

Kinsella stresses that police must follow a lawful process which includes the gathering of evidence up front and the obtaining of a warrant before it can close down an unlicensed dispensary.

Story continues below advertisement

He adds that is “one of the challenges with the pop-up stores” and “the pop-up store operators know that.”

Kinsella says Hamilton police have executed 12 warrants since launching their new protocol of “hold, lock and secure” of premises, adding that 11 of those locations are currently alarmed and being held while charges are before the courts.

Provincially licensed, legal dispensaries can start operating as of April 1 in Ontario, but there’s no indication when the first of them will open in Hamilton.

Advertisement

You are viewing an Accelerated Mobile Webpage.

View Original Article