Pubdate: Mon, 28 Aug 2017
Source: Chronicle Herald (CN NS)
Copyright: 2017 The Halifax Herald Limited
Contact:  http://www.herald.ns.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/180
Author: Aaron Beswick

TASTY BUDDS PRESIDENT APOLOGIZES AFTER POLICE RAIDS AND DRUG TRAFFICKING 
ALLEGATIONS

Tasty Budds president Mal McMeekin is "very sorry" about alleged
illegal activities that police say were occuring at his company's
storefronts.

"We want to be very clear that the alleged illegal activity was
occuring at one Tasty Budds location (Sackville Location)," reads a
written statement sent to The Chronicle Herald and attributed to Mal
McMeekin.

"This only came to our attention through the recent police activity
and investigation. This is a gross violation of our code of conduct,
our ethics, and everything that Tasty Budds stands for."

Police conducted raids on Tasty Budds storefronts and the homes of
people connected with the medical marijuana seller across the province
on Aug. 25. As a result, 10 people were arrested and charged with 69
drug and firearm offences. Police allege that those arrested were
using the storefronts to traffic in cocaine and marijuana, selling
drugs knowing they were going to be re-sold for criminal profit and
selling marijuana at well over amounts prescribed.

They seized 29 kilograms of marijuana, 10 kilograms of cannabis oil,
45 kilograms of cannabis edibles, seven kilograms of a form of
cannabis resin known as "shatter" and 600 grams of hash. They also
seized a loaded handgun, a shotgun, drug paraphernalia, $10,000 in
cash and three ATMs.

McMeekin said in his letter on Monday that all the staff at the
company's Sackville location had been fired as a result of the raid.

"We hope the actions of a few bad apples will not spoil the basket,"
reads the letter.

An employee at the Tasty Budds Cole Harbour office confirmed Monday
that the letter originated from the company, but refused to say more.

"You have our statement," she said before hanging up the
phone.

McMeekin himself was charged with three counts of trafficking,
possession of property obtained by proceeds of crime, and unauthorized
possession of a firearm as a result of the raid.

Also charged were:

Jarrett Randall Shrum, 31, of Bedford, faces 17 charges, including
trafficking cocaine and marijuana and possession of a prohibited
firearm with readily available ammunition.

Norman Arthur Lawrence, 46, of Westphal, has been charged with seven
offences, including three counts of trafficking.

Josh Robert Byers, 42, of Halifax; Brandon Richard Lively, 29, of
Beaver Bank; and Connor Brian Haryett, 26, of Dartmouth, all face
three counts of trafficking.

Justin Wade Wile, 31, of Windsor, and Bryan Jacob Canavan, 25, of
MacKay Settlement, have both been charged with trafficking in
marijuana and cannabis resin, and Gillian Sarah Sampson, 28, of
Antigonish, has been charged with trafficking in marijuana.
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