Concern growing over pot dispensary robberies
Workers have been assaulted, but fear of raids stop some from calling police
AFTER NEWS OF THE LATEST armed marijuana dispensary robbery, local cannabis advocate Britney Guerra appealed through a media release for any store owners who have been robbed to call police. The responses she got back shocked her. She knew there were robberies going unreported, but the problem was bigger than she suspected. Within 48 hours she had calls from four different Hamilton store owners who told her they had been robbed — perhaps by the same people — in the last month alone.
The issue, of course, is that dispensaries are illegal. The fear of police raids is stopping some from calling police, Guerra said. And it seems criminals are banking on owners’ fears — a trend she wants to change in the name of public safety.
“They’re getting away with it,” she said. “This is a serious issue.”
Officially Hamilton police have had six robberies reported since last April — that includes five in 2017, and the Blue Ox Dispensary robbery Friday. In four of last year’s robberies, police have made arrests.
But Investigative Services Supt. Ryan Diodati says Hamilton police know robberies are going unreported, and that is concerning.
“We can’t do our job properly if we’re not made aware of these types of crimes,” he said. “Any robbery and any shooting, just one, is a concern ... any time you introduce firearms into the equation it’s concerning for us.”
But that doesn’t mean police are willing to turn a blind eye to marijuana.
If police are called to a robbery and there are illegal drugs there, they will hold the scene for a warrant, Diodati said. He recalled one reported robbery where dispensary staff initially wouldn’t let police inside,
“We can’t do our job properly if we’re not made aware of these types of crimes.” RYAN DIODATI INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES SUPT., HAMILTON POLICE
but eventually conceded.
A year ago there were 15 dispensaries in the city. At last count city bylaw said there were 46.
“The first concern is the increase in illegal drug trafficking in storefronts,” Diodati said. “I can’t stress enough that all of these dispensaries are illegal.”
Hamilton police have executed 14 drug search warrants at dispensaries since 2016. According to its latest report, Hamilton bylaw has also issued 27 zoning charges, 12 business licensing violation notices, seven bylaw violation notices and four property standards orders.
Yet the businesses continue to grow and with that, the robberies, which include the use of firearms.
Diodati said police believe dispensaries are likely being targeted because of cash as much, if not more, than for drugs.
Medical marijuana patients are legally required to buy online through licensed growers (not storefront dispensaries). The LCBO will be operating stores in Ontario when legalization for recreational marijuana use is expected later this year.
Yet activists say this is not enough and the black market will continue to thrive.
Guerra used to own the Hamilton location of Cannabis Culture on King Street East before Toronto police targeted locations of the highprofile store. She was among five, including prominent pot activists Jodie and Marc Emery, to plead guilty to drug charges last month.
Guerra said she pleaded in exchange for others seeing their charges dropped. She agreed to pay a fine and not to run an illegal business for 18 months. But she says she’s still an advocate for dispensaries and says she’s concerned about what’s happening in Hamilton.
A year ago she said she knew everyone involved in the local dispensary business; everyone was an activist calling for broader cannabis legalization. Now she says it’s gotten so big she doesn’t know everyone, or their motives.
When she opened Cannabis Culture, which also included a recreational lounge, she said she hired security. Since then most storefronts seem to include security guards and other security measures, yet they appear powerless in the face of a gun.
That’s why Guerra said owners should always comply with the robbers’ demands and call 911, even if it means risking police coming back to seize cannabis.
The latest robbery at Blue Ox Dispensary at 76 George St., happened around 11:30 p.m. Friday when two masked men rushed in, assaulted the security guard, ordered everyone to the ground and then filled a reusable grocery bag with money and product.
The first suspect is described as a black male, six-foot, 200 pounds and wearing a bandana over his face. The second suspect is described as a male, five-foot-eight, about 160 pounds and also wearing a bandana over his face.
The BEAR and vice and drug units continue to investigate. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Sgt. Emidio Evangelista at 905-546-2991
To provide information anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 1800-222-8477 or submit your tips online at crimestoppershamilton.com.
They’re getting away with it. This is a serious issue. BRITNEY GUERRA
CANNABIS ADVOCATE