Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
A Canadian chain of recreational marijuana dispensaries is opening eight shops across Montreal today.
Cannabis Culture, which is co-owned by activists Jodie and Marc Emery, already has stores in British Columbia and Ontario.
They have now brought their shops to Montreal, despite current federal law not allowing for the sale of recreational marijuana in Canada.
The government is expected to table legislation legalizing cannabis in the spring.
At a news conference at their Mount Royal Avenue location, Jodie Emery said the only reason legalization is being considered as an option now is because of activists who broke laws in order to bring change.
She said she and her husband didn't want to wait for the government to legalize cannabis and set up a system that will "usurp the industry from those who built it."
"This is not like the dot-com boom," she said. "This industry didn't come out of nowhere. People have sacrificed, campaigned, been punished, demonized, persecuted all because of prohibition."
10 stores by end of year
The stores sell to people 19 years old and up, a minimum age chosen to fall in line with the legal drinking age in most provinces.
They intend to pay taxes and don't allow children inside the stores, Jodie Emery said.
The couple hopes to open a total of 10 shops in Montreal by the end of the month. The eight locations that were to open at 10 a.m. ET today are located at:
The remaining two locations have yet to be disclosed. They are slated to open by the end of the month.
'Don't raid,' owner tells police
Cannabis Culture dispensaries have had run-ins with police in the past. Over the summer, a number of their dispensaries were raided by police in Ontario.
Employees have been charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime.
Cannabis Culture provides a lawyer for employees if they are arrested and charged.
Jodie Emery asked Montreal police not to "cause harm to the harmless people" who work at their stores.
"Please, police, do not raid, do not arrest, do the right thing and let these peaceful businesses operate as they should so we can demonstrate what legalization looks like," she said.
While it's unclear what action, if any, Montreal police will take with regard to the stores, a spokesperson for the force said in an email Wednesday that police intervene when there are violations of the law that governs drugs and other substances.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Illegal Montreal Marijuana Dispensaries Open Today
Author: Staff
Contact: CBC News
Photo Credit: CBC
Website: CBC News
Cannabis Culture, which is co-owned by activists Jodie and Marc Emery, already has stores in British Columbia and Ontario.
They have now brought their shops to Montreal, despite current federal law not allowing for the sale of recreational marijuana in Canada.
The government is expected to table legislation legalizing cannabis in the spring.
At a news conference at their Mount Royal Avenue location, Jodie Emery said the only reason legalization is being considered as an option now is because of activists who broke laws in order to bring change.
She said she and her husband didn't want to wait for the government to legalize cannabis and set up a system that will "usurp the industry from those who built it."
"This is not like the dot-com boom," she said. "This industry didn't come out of nowhere. People have sacrificed, campaigned, been punished, demonized, persecuted all because of prohibition."
10 stores by end of year
The stores sell to people 19 years old and up, a minimum age chosen to fall in line with the legal drinking age in most provinces.
They intend to pay taxes and don't allow children inside the stores, Jodie Emery said.
The couple hopes to open a total of 10 shops in Montreal by the end of the month. The eight locations that were to open at 10 a.m. ET today are located at:
- 1863 Amherst St.
- 1412 Pie-IX Blvd.
- 8870 St-Michel Blvd.
- 7130 St-Laurent Blvd.
- 2200 Mount Royal Ave. E.
- 3804 St-Laurent Blvd.
- 1431B Bishop St.
- 4961 Queen Mary Rd.
The remaining two locations have yet to be disclosed. They are slated to open by the end of the month.
'Don't raid,' owner tells police
Cannabis Culture dispensaries have had run-ins with police in the past. Over the summer, a number of their dispensaries were raided by police in Ontario.
Employees have been charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime.
Cannabis Culture provides a lawyer for employees if they are arrested and charged.
Jodie Emery asked Montreal police not to "cause harm to the harmless people" who work at their stores.
"Please, police, do not raid, do not arrest, do the right thing and let these peaceful businesses operate as they should so we can demonstrate what legalization looks like," she said.
While it's unclear what action, if any, Montreal police will take with regard to the stores, a spokesperson for the force said in an email Wednesday that police intervene when there are violations of the law that governs drugs and other substances.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Illegal Montreal Marijuana Dispensaries Open Today
Author: Staff
Contact: CBC News
Photo Credit: CBC
Website: CBC News
