Police intervention at Cannabis Culture, owner arrested

(Montreal) The illegal sale of marijuana Cannabis Culture, opened in great pomp Thursday in Montreal, will have challenged the authorities for only two days, the time to give or sell cannabis to hundreds of consumers. The Montreal police carried out operations Friday night in the six exploited businesses. Ten people were arrested, including the controversial co-owner Marc Emery.

“Imprison me if you want,” said Marc Emery, slinger, at La Presse on Thursday. On Friday night, the nicknamed the “Prince of the Pot” had to leave the branch of his business on Mount Royal Avenue in the back seat of a police car. “It’s disgusting and it’s an injustice! This arrest is a mistake and prohibition is a mistake! Prime Minister [Trudeau] is a disgrace! Just like the mayor [Denis Coderre]! “, He shouted, escorted by the police in front of the TV cameras. No charges were laid against him on Friday night.

Six of the eight businesses in British Columbia’s Cannabis Culture chain were searched by dozens of police officers from the Montreal Police Service (SPVM) who took part in the operation. La Presse found on the premises that the new branches on Amherst Street and Avenue Mont-Royal had been hit. The two businesses untouched had no activity. These stores sold cannabis to adults over 19 for non-medical purposes, an illegal activity.

Ten people were arrested for drug trafficking and possession for trafficking. The SPVM was not in a position to say whether these suspects were only employees of Cannabis Culture. “The operation was not aimed at customers as such. But the investigation is not over, it is possible that other criminal charges are filed, “said Commander Stephen Verissimo of the North Division’s Division of Investigative Services interviewed at the SPVM headquarters.

The SPVM wanted to send a message to the people on Friday: “The possession and trafficking of marijuana is illegal right now. The Police Service will enforce the law that is in force, “warned Commander Verissimo. The police seized 18 kilos (40lbs) of cannabis, cash and cannabis trafficking equipment, according to a tentative report released Friday night.

Jodie Emery, Marc Emery’s wife, says he is in talks with lawyers about bailing employees who have been arrested. The intention of Cannabis Culture is to reopen its stores as soon as possible. “We can not do it right now because the police are still there, but it’s something we’ll be discussing this evening,” Emery said in a telephone interview earlier this evening.

“I ask Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who himself has admitted to having a joint, to surrender to the police for violating the law. He is a hypocrite, “she added.

“We hoped the police would be more progressive and tolerant. Rather, they should focus on gangs and organized crime rather than squandering taxpayer dollars by targeting a peaceful business that is just civil disobedience. The consequence of their descent is that they allow thousands of consumers to buy cannabis directly from the black market rather than from our stores, “says Emery.

In the evening, Mayor Denis Coderre responded to the intervention through Twitter: “More relevant to put your energies on legislative process assured for marijuana legalization than an unnecessary stunt … respect the law”.

This type of business is emerging as Ottawa prepares a bill to legalize cannabis for recreational purposes next spring.

In 2010, Marc Emery was extradited to the United States for mailing marijuana seeds. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in prison.