People taken in handcuffs from illegal pot store
CAMBRIDGE — Waterloo Regional Police made numerous arrests and seized goods from an illegal cannabis dispensary operating on Elgin Street North in Cambridge on Thursday.
Police converged upon the store in the early afternoon to execute a search warrant, with members of the police organization’s drug and firearm units sweeping through the store. One by one, police escorted employees of the dispensary out of the store in handcuffs.
A blond woman in handcuffs yelled, “We love you!” to a Cambridge Times reporter capturing images of the raid from across the street.
Trymz, which bills itself as a pain and wellness clinic, moved to the 226 Elgin St. N. location several weeks ago, leaving behind its Preston site on King Street after it was shuttered by police at least three times. Following each raid, however, Trymz reopened within 24 hours. During those raids, police seized large amounts of everything from marijuana, edibles made using cannabis, as well as syringes filled with cannabis resin.
“We’ve warned these illegal dispensaries that if they continue to open up, we will continue to enforce the law,” said police spokesperson Cherri Greeno. “There’s a major issue with the safety, because when it comes down to it, what they’re selling isn’t regulated by Health Canada. There are potential safety risks to the public.”
Recently, a girl in the region was taken to hospital after ingesting edibles containing cannabis, explained Greeno, and a resident became seriously ill after using a substance purchased at an illegal dispensary.
“There is definitely a safety concern from our end, so we will continue to monitor these illegal stores.”
Within moments of police officers clearing the scene of the raid, cars were streaming into the parking lot of the Trymz operation, with scores of people hoping to make a purchase but finding doors locked.
Meanwhile, neighbouring business owners, who observed the police raid, expressed gratitude, noting a relentless influx of Trymz customers taking over their parking lots. The store’s hours listed on the front window indicate the business operated seven days a week, remaining open until midnight.
Police Chief Bryan Larkin told the Waterloo Region Police Services Board last month the service planned to realign its drug investigative and enforcement teams to target illegal cannabis dispensaries after legislation pushed back legal privatized sales. He gave board members a “heads up” the organization would be reigniting efforts to shut down illegal cannabis storefronts after reports that more dispensaries appeared to be popping up again.
Larkin expressed concern more storefronts would be opening as a result of a growing grey market created by delays in legislation.
As of Oct. 17, federal and provincial cannabis legislation goes into effect, making it legal for those aged 19 and older to buy and consume recreational cannabis. However, Ontarians will only be able to purchase it online via the province’s Ontario Cannabis Store. If legislation is passed, tightly regulated retail storefronts will become legal, but not until April 2019. The chief has insisted the service takes a “balanced” approach when confronting illegal dispensaries.
“We actually approach the store first to serve notice around this is illegal, you need to cease and desist,” he said.