Quebec City police bust medical marijuana dispensary

A manager ata medical marijuana dispensary in Quebec City was arrested Tuesday morning, after police raided the business and shut it down.

Police investigatorsarrived inunmarked vans just after 10 a.mand executed a search warrant for LeCannoisseuron St-Jean Streetin downtown Quebec City.

Police said investigatorswere going to spend several hours cataloguing the contents of the shop,which include derived marijuana products.

''Marijuana is not legal in Canada,'' said David Poitras, spokesperson for Quebec City police.

Company defends its product

The person who wasarrested was released with a promise to appear in court at a later date. Police said Crown prosecutors haveyet to decide on charges.

CBC was not able to speak with the owners of Le Cannoisseur, but in a message posted tothe dispensary'sFacebook page, theywrote Le Cannoisseur"wants to reassure its faithful members.''

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The company saidit plans to reopen the dispensary as soonas possible and will continue promoting safe access to medical cannabis.

It also criticized police for ''stifling a business's efforts to offer a medicinal alternative, in conformity with the Supreme Court of Canada.''

Short-lived operations

Le Cannoisseuropened its doors on St-Jean Streetin downtown Quebec City during the summer.

Poitras said this is the third such business that's attemptedto operatein Quebec City andthe thirdto be shut down by police.

''We're not going to tolerate this here in Quebec City as long as it's not legal,'' said Poitras, adding that police ''want to send a message."

Police said the LeCannoisseurhad been open to the public since August and was officially registered with the province's revenue agency.

In 2016,Weeds, Herbes et Curiosits,another dispensary that set up shop on St-Joseph Street,was shut downtwo months after opening.

Two people are currently awaiting trial and are both facing charges of trafficking and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Weeds CEO Don Brire told CBC closing dispensaries is a waste of public funds, and police should be focusing on more serious crimes.

Weeds operates in20 other locations across Canada, including Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver.

La Croix Verte also had a storefront in Quebec City, on St-VallierStreet. It was shut down by police last January.No one has been charged.

The company's dispensary in Montreal, however, remains open.