Pubdate: Sat, 10 Sep 2016
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Salmaan Farooqui
Page: GT3

LANDLORD CALLED COPS, EMERY SAYS

'Prince of Pot' says his new dispensary has five-year
lease

Marc Emery, the marijuana dispensary owner dubbed the "Prince of Pot,"
says his landlord is trying to evict him from his new Church St. store.

On Friday morning Emery was live-streaming and posting videos of
police and his landlord's representative gathering outside of his
Toronto business, Cannabis Culture.

"I think he (the landlord) is definitely responsible for calling the
cops," said Emery on a video posted on his Facebook page, taken inside
the store as police gathered outside.

"He's been trying to get me out from . . . the first
day."

Emery claims he has a five-year lease agreement for a dispensary on
the premises with the property managing company Sud Group and "I have
not violated or breached our agreement in any way."

Elliot Sud, the landlord of the property, did not immediately respond
to multiple calls for comment.

The situation only lasted until around 11 a.m., when point police and
the landlord's representative left the area without taking any action.

When reached for comment by the Star, Emery said that the landlord has
been trying to get rid of Cannabis Culture since it moved in at the
beginning of September, having attempted to change the locks on its
first and fifth days of business.

Despite the turmoil, Emery said that the ongoing dispute won't change
anything about his plans in Toronto.

"I'm grateful that we're back in business. People have been here in
droves and are very supportive in the Gay Village. It's wonderful
here, so hopefully there are many prosperous years to come," said Emery.

Emery is a prominent pot activist who says he's been arrested 28 times
for marijuana-related civil disobedience. He also served four and a
half years in a U.S. prison after being convicted of selling to U.S.
clients through his Vancouver stores. He was released from prison in
2014.

His Cannabis Culture store on Queen St. W. was one of many that were
raided by police over the summer during a clampdown.

On Wednesday, seven people were charged with drug-related offences
after Toronto police raided two pot dispensaries in the city. Officers
executed a search warrant at Potluck Apothecary and Dispensary near
King St. and Spadina Ave., and charged three employees.

Cory Feferman, 29, Joseph Nguyen, 25, and Paula Roopnarine, 25, were
charged with possession of a substance for the purpose of trafficking,
and possession of proceeds obtained by crime. Nguyen is further
charged with trafficking a Schedule II substance.

Four others were charged after officers raided a dispensary in the
city's west end, Better Living, in Etobicoke.

Laura Mendez, 28, Jason Haist, 30, Emily Devlin, 22, and Stephen
Norman, 34, all from Toronto, are each charged with possession of a
Schedule II substance, possession of a substance for the purpose of
trafficking and possession of proceeds obtained by crime.

- - With files from Evelyn Kwong
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