Marijuana shop operator turns himself in to police
Couple stunned by warrant for arrest on day legalization date announced
Pat Warnecke arrived at the Regina Police Service headquarters at precisely 8:55 a.m. Thursday, proudly wearing his Best Buds Society T-shirt.
The outspoken pot shop operator said he was “disappointed” to have to be there, responding to a warrant for his arrest on charges of marijuana trafficking and laundering the proceeds of crime.
“They obviously pulled a strongarm stunt,” he said, referring to a Regina Police Service statement sent out to media Wednesday. It stated that police were unable to locate him and his girlfriend and had taken out a warrant for their arrest. It signalled that he was a wanted man.
His girlfriend, Megan Nicole Potter, accompanied him dressed in her own Best Buds apparel as the couple entered the police station to turn themselves in to police.
“I actually found out the same time everyone else found out that I had a warrant out and I was wanted,” said Potter, who is facing similar charges to Warnecke. “They made no attempts to contact me or call me or anything, so I was very shocked.”
Warnecke did acknowledge that they’ve been out of province, in British Columbia. He said authorities contacted him about 10 days ago, and that his lawyer was in touch with them after that point.
“Everybody knows who we are. We weren’t hiding,” he said.
Warnecke was already facing charges related to his operations during the police service’s anti-pot shop campaign, which began with raids in March. He tried to keep Best Buds running despite the police crackdown.
He used the occasion of his Thursday surrender to expound on marijuana legalization, which he views as inadequate by virtue of its focus on dried cannabis. He also complained about the use of resources to prosecute him and other dispensary owners.
“They’re still spending money and putting out warrants for our arrest, the arrest of people like us,” he said.
“I think it would be a better use of resources to put some actual wanted people in those pictures.”
Warnecke said he and Potter are ready to face a judge. He was due to appear in court at 2 p.m. Thursday. A prosecutor told the Leader-Post that the Crown will not be opposing his release.
He said Best Buds Society remains open, but only to provide “consultations.”
The news release announcing the arrests was issued on Wednesday, the same day the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau set Oct. 17 as the date for legalized, recreational marijuana.