RCMP lay charges following investigation of marijuana dispensary
RCMP say drug-related charges laid against two people in Shelburne County following three-month investigation
Charges have been laid against two individuals in Shelburne County following an investigation into a business that the RCMP say has been determined not to be a licensed marijuana supplier.
The RCMP say Shelburne RCMP’s Street Crime Enforcement Unit (SCEU) received information about a dispensary that had been established on Shore Road in Port Saxon, which is located between Shelburne and Barrington.
“The business was advertising its products on social media sites online,” read an RCMP media release.
The RCMP say they carried out a three-month investigation.
“RCMP investigators determined that the public could purchase marijuana from the business without a prescription,” the media release stated.
On Sept. 21, police say they searched the business and arrested a man and a woman without incident. During the search, police say they located a significant amount of marijuana products which had been prepared for retail sales.
Terry Lawrence Nickerson, 51, of Port Saxon, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and breach of a firearms prohibition order. Bertha Phyllis Marie Wilkinson, 47, of Port Saxon, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and trafficking in a controlled substance.
Both were released from custody and are scheduled to attend Shelburne Provincial Court on Dec. 5.
“Given the highly overt advertisement of this illegal business, the RCMP continues to ask the public to contact them at 902875-2490 if they have information about specific incidents related to the sale of marijuana products in Port Saxon,” said the RCMP.
The police said further charges may be pending as the investigation continues.
The day before the RCMP announced these charges, the RCMP in another part of western Nova Scotia said they had conducted searches and would be laying charges for drug-related offences in relation to searches that were conducted on Sept. 21 in what the RCMP called illegal marijuana storefront operations in Kings and Annapolis counties.
In the Kings County searches, two storefronts on Commercial Street in New Minas and one on Argus Drive in Greenwood were searched. Numerous people were being charged with offences of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking
In Annapolis County, a business on Main Street in Middleton and a home on Granville Road in Annapolis Royal were searched, resulting in drug and firearms charges pending against an Annapolis County man.
Outside the Kentville courthouse on Sept. 24, shouts, a siren and marijuana smoke were in the air outside the Kentville court- house as a few dozen people protested the arrest of a woman for allegedly operating a marijuana dispensary.
Asked if the RCMP is weeding out dispensaries ahead of the federal legalization of cannabis, RCMP Corporal Jennifer Clarke said, “there’s not a crackdown happening. We continue to enforce the current laws and address community concerns.”
She had stated earlier that marijuana dispensaries are simply not legal.
“Health Canada is the only way to get legal marijuana right now — there’s nothing grey about it,” she said.
When the legalization of cannabis occurs, the government of Nova Scotia says sales will take place through NSLC at identified locations throughout the province, Yarmouth being one of them. Sales will also occur online.