CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE SHAPING UP

e defence lawyer for a former Bible Hill marijuana dispensary owner has served notice of intent to pursue a Charter of Rights challenge to the man’s drug charges.

Ricky Joseph Leclerc, 51, of Upper Kennetcook, is facing numerous drug charges following two raids that were carried out at his marijuana dispensary on Pictou Road in September and again in March.

Leclerc has pled not guilty to the September charges and is scheduled for trial on Jan. 7 and 9, 2019.

“I will be proceeding on that date,” Halifax defence lawyer Alexander Mackillop said, via telephone link in provincial court in Truro, Wednesday. “I may be putting forward a constitutional challenge and I may be using those dates to argue the constitutional challenge,” he said.

Leclerc was charged in September with trafficking in marijuana and cannabis resin and with possessing marijuana and cannabis resin for the purpose of trafficking.

He is also facing a charge of possession of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking relating to the March incident. He has yet to enter a plea on that charge and is scheduled to be arraigned on May 14.

The RCMP said at that time members of the Colchester County Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit seized a quantity of cash, marijuana, marijuana derivatives and drug paraphernalia during that search. e shop has been closed since the latest raid.