Windsor police raid Ottawa Street cannabis dispensary, 1 arrest

A 37-year-old woman has been arrested by Windsor police after anillegal cannabis dispensary was searched on Ottawa Street near Pierre Avenue.

The Drugs and Guns Unit (DIGS) began an investigation late December 2018.

Undercover officers attended the location a number of times in the last week.

On Jan. 4, officers carried out a search warrant and arrested the woman. Police did not disclose whether the woman was the owner or an employee of the location.

Police seized cash and multiple forms of cannabis including cannabis-infused lotions and edibles.

The woman is facing charges of selling cannabis without permission and possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling, both contrary to the federal Cannabis Act.

Ettore Bonato, president of the Ottawa Street Business Improvement Area, said he phoned police in December after getting many concerned callsabout the dispensary from businesses.

There's a family restaurant nearby the dispensary, he said, and "there are people that are always standing out here, smoking."

"I feel better that it is closed," he said.

Private marijuana retail will be legal in Ontario in April 2019. Until then, the only place to legally purchase recreational marijuana is through the Online Cannabis Stores.

Ontario has said there will be seven retail licenses available for western Ontario, spread across at least five major municipalities, including Windsor, London, Waterloo Region, Guelph, Hamilton and St. Catharines.