Pubdate: Wed, 02 Dec 2015 Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC) Copyright: 2015 Black Press, Inc. Contact: http://www.nanaimodailynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608 Author: Aaron Hinks POLICE ACT ON POT SHOP THREAT Three Marijuana Dispensaries Raided, Occupants Removed in Handcuffs The RCMP raided three Nanaimo marijuana storefronts and arrested several dispensary employees Tuesday morning. Trees, on Bowen Road, Phoenix Pain Management, on Wallace Street, and Nature's Source Society, on Front Street, were the three shops targeted. Police said they took action against the dispensaries after receiving 'several' complaints from the public. In one case, the police allege, a 15-year-old girl had purchased marijuana from a storefront. "When I have reports of storefronts selling marijuana to youth and concerned community members approaching me about it, we are compelled to take enforcement action," said Nanaimo RCMP Supt. Mark Fisher in a press release. "Our approach has always been to address public concerns, consult our contracting partners, stakeholders and allow for our investigations to determine the way forward. That was done in this case." Police did not make clear what, if any, charges would be forthcoming in connection with Tuesday's action. "As these investigations will now be before the courts and other investigations are still underway, Nanaimo RCMP will not be commenting further on this issue." On Nov. 12 the RCMP issued letters to dispensaries giving the storefronts seven calendar days to shut down or they would be raided. Police say two dispensaries voluntarily stopped operating after the letter. The RCMP media release said this was a fair approach, which provided enough time for compliance. Nature's Source Society manager Rich Schmok was slated to work Tuesday at 4 p.m. He wasn't inside the building at the time of the raid and wasn't arrested. "I came and saw some cop cars sitting out front. I rushed down only to find that the doors were barricaded off and my friends, staff members and patients are being hauled away," Schmok said. "I haven't seen many patients, mostly staff. My boss and a couple of the cooks, not sure why they were hauled away." Schmok then clarified he wasn't 100 per cent confident he saw patients being arrested. Schmok said the dispensary knew the RCMP threat was looming. "I didn't think it was going to come to fruition, but here we are," Schmok said. Nanaimo RCMP said the search warrants were judicially authorized and police have worked closely with Public Prosecution Service Canada. The RCMP release says enforcement is guided by existing laws and legislation. The release also says there is no legal mechanism in Canada that allows medicinal marijuana dispensaries or compassion clubs to sell to the public. Some Nature's Source Society staff members, including Schmok, were standing in front of the shop filming their friends and coworkers being arrested. "Just in this club there's a couple thousand patients and 30 workers, why do that?" Schmok said. Mike, who didn't provide his last name, said he's also a manager of Nature's Source and has been with the company since it started. "It's kind of surprising considering we have a (federal) government that's in the process of legalization and they do this. I don't know what they expect to come of this," Mike said. Trees issued a statement indicating they will be 'back to full operational status as soon as possible.' Schmok said he doesn't know what's in store for the future and that the dispensary community needs help. "This is not right, this is taking away patients' medicine and work for people in this town." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom