Retailer puzzled by affiliate’s drug charges

Green Street owner says no marijuana was sold at store

A person affiliated with a Regina business that provides marijuana consulting has been charged with drug trafficking and the store’s owner guessed Thursday that he might be next.

Jonathan Metz, the owner of Green Street, a hydroponics consulting firm that had been raided during the Regina Police Service’s crackdown on marijuana dispensaries in the city, confirmed Thursday that someone affiliated with the business had been charged within the previous 24 hours.

The exact charges could not be immediately confirmed, but are believed to include trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime.

Metz said police had also visited his home, and that he was scheduled to speak with police Thursday evening with his lawyer. Metz expected he would also face charges.

“That’s just what they do man, that’s what they’ve always done. They charge now and then ask questions later and you have to prove your innocence. They don’t even have to prove guilt, you just have to prove innocence,” said Metz.

Metz questioned why Green Street was being targeted instead of other marijuana businesses and dispensaries following the March raids by Regina police. So far, the only other business to face charges was Best Buds Society owner Pat Warnecke, who was charged with six counts of trafficking a controlled substance (marijuana), as well as trafficking not exceeding $5,000.

Three Best Buds employees were also charged after the dispensary reopened its doors following police raids.

Metz expressed frustration that an affiliate of Green Street was charged now, given that the company had shifted toward being a hydroponics store. The business had sold topical creams that contained THC, one of the active ingredients in marijuana, as well as well as hemp-based dog biscuits infused with Cannabidiol.

Metz said no marijuana was ever sold at Green Street. There was previously “product” in the store, but it was for employees.

Following the raid, Metz said the business has been trying to go “completely legitimate.” Green Street now helps customers get a licence to grow their own medical marijuana. Once acquired, it helps customers set up their own hydroponics equipment. The business is also planning to offer education seminars where people can see marijuana plants and how they are grown. Metz said Green Street has a licence to grow medical marijuana.

“We’re trying to make a hydroponics store and you come back three months later and deal with it. Why didn’t you deal with it right then. Why didn’t you just charge us right then and there if that was the case?” said Metz.

Metz accused the police of “ruining lives” when they could be dealing with more serious problems.

“There’s people dying every day from fentanyl and they’re worried about marijuana? And they’re about something that happened three months ago? Like, that doesn’t really make a lot of sense to me personally,” said Metz.

There’s people dying every day from fentanyl and they’re worried about marijuana?