Pubdate: Wed, 09 Nov 2011 Source: Kamloops This Week (CN BC) Copyright: 2011 Kamloops This Week Contact: http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1271 Author: Jeremy Deutsch POLICE RAID FOLLOWED BY CLOSURE It was the scene of a pot seizure by Kamloops Mounties and, now, the North Kamloops office of the Canadian Safe Cannabis Society will be comparatively quite for at least the rest of the week. The city has slapped the office at 405 Tranquille Rd. with a no- occupancy order as part of the controlled substance and property mediation bylaw. The order was posted on the office's door on Monday, Nov. 7. David Trawin, director of development and engineering services, said it is routine for the city to place the order on a property after police come across a grow-op or drug lab. Trawin said the reasoning behind the bylaw is to ensure and health hazards, such as mould or tampering with electrical panels, are repaired before the building is occupied. "From our point of view, the bylaw is for the health and safety of the tenants," Trawin said. On Nov. 1, Kamloops RCMP raided the society's storefront, seizing marijuana, business records and computers. Police also arrested Carl Anderson of the Canadian Safe Cannabis Society for allegedly obstructing justice. Trawin noted city building inspectors toured the property with the building's owner, who is not Anderson, and advised the owner of the bylaw. An assessment by an environmental-remediation professional must be submitted to the city before the building can occupied. Trawin said the owner indicated the assessment would be carried out this week. However, the city might not be done with Anderson. Trawin said city hall is also considering fining Anderson due to violations of his business licence. Trawin said the business, which has a permit to operate as an administration office, was not permitted to conduct retail sales or operate as a lab. Police believe the Canadian Safe Cannabis Society had been operating outside the law - in violation of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and federal medicinal-marijuana access regulations. The society opened earlier this year and remains the only so-called compassion club in the Kamloops area. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt