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Medicinal Grounds Cannabis Centre, a medical marijuana dispensary, which opened in uptown Saint John on Aug. 16, was among the locations raided on Tuesday morning. (Matthew Bingley/CBC)
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The 10 a.m. raids stemmed from an investigation by the Saint John Police Force integrated street crime unit, said Sgt. Charles Breen.
He could not comment on any seizures. More details are expected to be released later in the day, he said.
"The execution of today's search warrants at the unlicensed Saint John medical marijuana dispensaries should not come as a surprise to anybody," Chief John Bates said in a statement.
"We have been very clear and direct while stating our position that it was our belief these unlicensed dispensaries were operating outside of the law. As such, we undertook an investigation which has culminated in today's raids."
The search warrants were executed at the following locations:
- Medicinal Grounds, 104 Prince William St.
- Medicinal Grounds, 505 Rothesay Ave.
- BCW, 8 Simpson Dr.
- King Canna, 76 Germain St.
- HBB Medical Inc., 1714 Rothesay Rd.
- HBB Medical Inc., 199 Chesley Dr.
Chief John Bates said police can't hypothesize on what changes the federal government will make regarding the legalization of marijuana or when those changes will become the 'law of the land.' (CBC)
In the meantime, decisions on how or whether to enforce the pot laws currently on the books have largely fallen to municipal policing agencies.
"We are wholly aware that the federal government is undertaking work and conversations are taking place that will undoubtedly change the landscape in this country as it pertains to the future lawful possession, use and distribution of marijuana," said Bates.
'It is our contention that the dispensaries we investigated and subsequently searched today were operating unlawfully.' - John Bates, police chief
"However, we cannot hypothesize on what those changes will eventually be or when they will become the law of the land," he said.
"It is our contention that the dispensaries we investigated and subsequently searched today were operating unlawfully."
Not a top priority
In September, Bates told CBC News medical marijuana dispensaries weren't a top priority for the police force.
"We have crime issues that we're endeavouring to tackle, societal issues like homelessness, vagrancy, and panhandling in the uptown we're trying to cure," Bates had said.
"I get far more calls about that than I have about a marijuana dispensary."
The street crime unit was assisted during the raids by members of the RCMP southern district street crime unit and uniform patrol officers of the Saint John Police Force.
The Saint John street crime unit consists of officers from the Saint John Police Force, Kennebecasis Regional Police Service and the RCMP,
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