Pubdate: Wed, 24 Jan 2018
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2018 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Authors: Scott Brown and Nick Eagland
Page: A8

FIVE FACING CHARGES AFTER POT MARKET BUST

Vancouver police are recommending 11 criminal charges be laid against
five people in connection with Sunday's bust of an open-air marijuana
market in Vancouver's Robson Square.

VPD Deputy Chief Howard Chow says four people were arrested - and
another is pending - after police descended on Robson in the block
between Hornby and Howe late Sunday evening.

But just hours after the police released details of the bust Tuesday,
pot was once again being sold on the block.

Robert Moore, president of World Cannabis, an anti-prohibition
advocacy group, was at the "cannabis farmer's market" Tuesday
afternoon but not selling cannabis.

His group was there to support the protesters selling cannabis and to
encourage them to sell to adults only, he said.

Moore said the vendors were risking arrest because they believe
cannabis needs to be inexpensive and accessible to all Canadians,
something they argue the proposed legalized system will not allow.

Vendors at the tents were charging $5 per gram of dried cannabis,
compared to the $10 per gram many dispensaries charge.

Moore said he respected the people who were arrested in recent
days.

"Those people, they're ballsy and they want to sell cannabis, and I
support that," he said. "There's a minimal risk. The worst thing is
they (police) could come down here, take their weed and 'red zone'
them or whatever."

Christopher Keats was selling dried cannabis and brownies in one of
the tents. Keats, who said he is homeless and trying to get off the
street, said he was protesting for his legal right to fair access to
cannabis, without fear of prosecution and a government monopoly.

"We're just taking a stand for the injustice," he said.

Keats said his act of protest was worth risking arrest.

"Absolutely," he said. "As a cannabis user and a cancer survivor, yes,
it is for me."

The square, which was permanently closed to traffic by the city in
2016 to create a public plaza, had been taken over in recent weeks by
those selling B.C. bud and edibles from tables, tents and kiosks.

Chow says Sunday's raid, which yielded more than nine pounds of dried
marijuana, 28 pounds of edible marijuana product - including gummies,
lollipops, baked goods and liquid oils - along with more than $4,000
in cash and weapons such as bats, pipes and a baton, was the
culmination of a six-week investigation called Project Apprentice.

David Hill, a 42-year-old Vancouver man, has been charged with one
count of trafficking in a controlled substance and one count of
possession for the purpose of trafficking. The names of the remaining
people arrested will be released once criminal charges are approved by
Crown counsel.

"We have been working with the City of Vancouver and monitoring the
situation in the 800 block of Robson Street for several months now,"
said Chow. "Our response has been incremental. However, at each stage,
the vendors have refused to co-operate and concerns around public
safety have increased. As such, we have had to escalate our response."

Possessing and selling cannabis for non-medical purposes is currently
illegal across the country. In July, the new federal Cannabis Act is
expected to make it legal for adults over the age of 18 to possess up
to 30 grams of cannabis.

Chow said there may have been a protest component to the market at one
time, but it has morphed into a 24/7 illegal operation.

"I believe there was a component in the early days that was
legitimately protesting. We police over 200-plus protests a year and
we respect every individual's right to protest but, let's face it,
these traffickers are there … walking out with thousands of dollars in
their pocket," he said.

"This is something we have to put a stop to."

All those arrested Sunday were released on the condition they stay
away from Robson Square. On Monday, Chow said a Vancouver man in his
20s was arrested for breaching his release condition when he returned
to the site.

Vancouver police have faced increased pressure in recent days from
both the public and media to enforce the law in the square, but Chow
claims Sunday's action was not in response to that.

"We have been working closely with federal Crown making sure we've
done the incremental steps … gone through the warnings, gone through
the bylaws, we've spoken to the vendors on a repeated basis," said
Chow.

"Part of our discussion with Crown is to make sure we have all the
evidentiary matters covered off before we go operationally, which we
did over the last few days."

The VPD says more arrests and charges are expected.
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MAP posted-by: Matt