Defying drug charges, Halifax marijuana dispensary reopens after raid

A Halifax business shut down after a police raid on Fridayhas reopened its doorsin the wake of drug charges against its employees,and is continuing to dispense medical and recreational marijuana.

Shirley Martineau, owner of Auntie's Health and Wellness on Barrington Street, was arrested and chargedwith cultivating marijuana and two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Three other men working at the store arecharged with possession of cannabis resin andmarijuanafor the purpose of trafficking.

Plans to restock store

Speaking from her Dartmouth-area home, the 66 year old says she's aware of the legal implications of restocking her store after Halifax police raidedit.

But her business, she said,is filling a void left by a health care system that isdifficult to navigate for people who want marijuanaproducts.

"I have to make a stand. I have to fight for the cancer patients," Martineau told CBC News on Saturday. "They have to go behind Walmart to buy their medicine? That doesn't make sense to me."

'I put everything I had into that store'

Auntie's Health and Wellness was registered as a business in June. One week ago, Martineau said the storebegan to sell to anyone over the age of 19, with or without a medical marijuanalicence.

She said it was a business decision not driven by profits, but to improve accessibility for all patients.

"People were coming to me crying telling me they couldn't find a doctor," she said. "I put everything I had into that store."

Martineau is also appealing the city's decision to deny Auntie's an occupancy permit application because of the sale of medical marijuana. The city says selling pot through storefronts is illegal and against bylaws.

Halifax police raid medical marijuana dispensary on Barrington Street

8 years ago

Duration 0:19

Four people who work at a Halifax shop that advertised it was selling medical marijuana to customers without a prescription are now facing drug-related charges.

Providing alternatives

Staff Sgt. AndrewMatthews of the Halifax Regional Police said in anemailSaturdaythat police are aware there is activity again and will continue to monitor it.

"What's the most devastating for me is the oil I had made just recently for a bunch of cancer patients. Now I can't get it," she said, fighting through tears."It's not easy to make."

• 4 workers at Halifax medical marijuana dispensary face drug charges

Due in court in 2017

Martineau also admits it hasn't been easy to keep the lights on. Revenue from recreational users pays formedical marijuana to be free for her customers, she said,but notfor muchmore.

Despite the risks, she said she's answering the call to give patients alternatives to opiates for pain relief.

"I opened the store today. And that's telling people not to give up,"Martineausaid.

Martineau and the three other men charged are scheduled to appear in Halifax provincial court at a later date.