Four charged after OPP raid pot shop in town of Essex
Four people are facing charges under the Cannabis Act of Canada after OPP raided a cannabis-based business in the town of Essex. Members of the OPP’s organized crime bureau and the Essex County OPP street crime unit executed a search warrant at Hemp Healthy Farmacy at 40 Talbot St. North on Tuesday.
Police said cannabis, edible cannabis products and a quantity of cash were seized.
One man and three women were arrested at the scene. All four have been charged with possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling — as defined by the new Cannabis Act, which came into effect Oct. 17. Charged are Scott Fletcher, 36, of Essex; Caitlynn Reid, 20, of Leamington; Sydnee Sleeman, 20, of Leamington; and Chelsea Stevenson, 25, of Essex. The individuals charged have been released on a promise to appear in court in Windsor in December.
Hemp Healthy Farmacy has been defiant about its cannabisrelated business activity. The store was previously raided by OPP in July — after which its owner vowed to reopen within days. “At certain times, people break the law when they feel the system is not right. We are people fighting to make it right,” the owner told the Star at the time. He has asked that his name not be published. The Cannabis Act was legislated to create a “strict legal framework for controlling the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis across Canada,” according to the federal government. The stated goals of the new legislation are to keep cannabis away from youths, to prevent criminals from profiting off cannabis and to protect public health and safety while allowing adults legal access to cannabis.
Windsor police laid charges under the Cannabis Act for the first time earlier this week, when officers raided and made arrests at the cannabis-based Compassion House at 405 Tecumseh Rd. West. While cannabis laws have recently changed, it’s still illegal to buy cannabis from any source other than a government-approved retailer. Storefront cannabis retail businesses will not be legal in Ontario until April.
At certain times, people break the law when they feel the system is not right. We are people fighting to make it right.