Local men face pot charges after arrest in Manitoba

Two Windsor men face Cannabis Act charges after the RCMP allegedly found 60 kilograms of pot during a routine traffic stop in rural Manitoba.

According to the RCMP, on the afternoon of June 14, a roving traffic unit conducted a routine stop of a pickup truck on Manitoba’s Highway 1 in the rural municipality of Cornwallis east of Brandon.

The occupants of the truck were two Windsor men. The stop led to a search of the vehicle, resulting in the discovery and seizure of large amounts of cannabis in several black garbage bags.

Under current Canadian law, the maximum amount of dried cannabis a person can legally possess or share in public is 30 grams.

Douglas Durham, 39, and Richard King, 60, both of Windsor, were arrested and charged under the Cannabis Act of Canada.

Their alleged offences include possession of illicit cannabis, possession of more than 30 grams of cannabis, possession of cannabis for the purpose of distributing and possession of unstamped cannabis.

The two accused have since been released from custody and are scheduled for court appearances in Brandon on Aug. 8.

RCMP said the incident shows that illegal cannabis still exists in communities across Canada despite the legalization of recreational cannabis.

“The only way to know your cannabis is safe is to purchase cannabis through approved distributors as outlined in the federal Cannabis Act and the provincial Liquor, Gaming, and Cannabis Control Act,” said Staff Sgt. Kyle Mcfadyen of RCMP Traffic Services.

RCMP said they and other agencies remain committed to enforcing laws regarding illicit substances to the fullest extent.

Their investigation into the June 14 incident continues.