The Medicinal Cannabis Dispensary, located on Thurlow St. in Vancouver, B.C., has been raided by the province’s Community Safety Unit (CSU). The dispensary had been selling pot without a provincial license, but had recently applied for one, and was taking the appropriate steps towards entering the licensed market.
The Community Safety Unit, operating under the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, enforces the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act. CSU officers have the jurisdiction to enter and inspect any store selling cannabis without a provincial license, with staff and owners facing up to $100,000 in fines, incarceration for up to a year, or both. Police forces can take further action as well.
Following the announcement on Twitter and social media, by owner Dana Larsen, community supporters rallied to the location, in numbers, and holding signs. Some have even handed out joints to patients being turned about by this morning’s law enforcement actions.
Update
CSU has confiscated all the equipment and medicinal cannabis product on site, as noted by Dana Larsen on Twitter, who also took the time to light up as the raid continues.
Update 2.0
More details to come on this developing story.