7 arrested after contraband seized from 3 N.B. cannabis dispensaries

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Seven people were arrested and cannabis-related items and cash were seized after searches at cannabis dispensaries in Saint John, Riverview and Moncton.

The Department of Justice and Public Safety said in a news release that peace officers executed a search warrant on April 5 at Cloud Nine Vape on Germain Street in Saint John.

A 35-year-old Saint John man, a 22-year-old Saint John man, and a 25-year-old woman from Saint John were arrested and face charges under the federal Cannabis Act, the department said.

All three were released from custody and will appear in court a later date.

Among the items seized were 1.4 kilograms of dried cannabis,  84.8 grams of hashish, 212 pre-rolled cannabis joints, 25 packs of shatter,15 distillate cartridges, 21 vape pens containing THC, 26 packages of gummies, 73 flavoured nicotine vapes, and $1,051 in cash.

On April 4 a search warrant was executed at Queen-E Smoke and Vape Outlet on Pinewood Road in Riverview.

A 57-year-old Moncton man, a 42-year-old Moncton woman and a 23-year-old Shediac man were arrested and face charges under the federal Cannabis Act.

All three were released from custody and have court appearances scheduled for June 24 in Moncton, said the department.

Peace officers seized 1.83 kilograms of dried cannabis, 97 packages of edibles,16 grams of hashish, 176 pre-rolled cannabis joints, 24 grams of shatter, 49 flavoured nicotine vapes, and $2,132 in cash, including cash in an ATM.

Also on April 4, a search warrant was executed at another Queen-E Smoke and Vape Outlet on Mountain Road in Moncton.

Officers seized1.25 kilograms of dried cannabis,184 packages of edibles, 11 grams of hashish, 295 pre-rolled cannabis joints, five grams of shatter, 40 flavoured nicotine vapes, and $3,116 in cash, including cash in an ATM.

At an Atlantic forum for contraband tobacco in Moncton this week, John Lunney, deputy chief of Inspection and Enforcement New Brunswick, talked about the difficulties of investigating illegal cannabis and unlicensed dispensaries because the provincial legislation was written mostly for licensed facilities.

Peace officers looking to investigate unlicensed dispensaries often have to do their work under the federal act, causing more legwork, especially when getting warrants.

“That created a challenge for us,” Lunney said. 

Proposed changes to provincial legislation are aimed at cracking down on unlicensed dispensaries, and reducing the sale of illegal cannabis.

Some of the changes include adding language addressing landlords that allow the illegal sales of cannabis to operate on their property and giving enforcement officers the ability to enter and inspect any place, premises, or vehicle to which the act applies.

It also allows inspectors to purchase and inspect any products they uncover as part of their investigations and gives greater authority to seize property and conduct inspections.

Inspectors would be given the ability to seize items they believe are evidence of an offence under the act and allow those items to be forfeited to the Crown for disposal following a conviction.

Fines for offences will also be increasing as a deterrent.

“I think this legislation will be very instrumental in eradicating public facing dispensaries,” said Lunney at the forum. 

In Thursday’s release, the department reminded New Brunswickers there are also penalties for those who purchase and possess illegal cannabis, not just for those who sell and distribute it.

“Cannabis NB and approved private retail partners are the only legal retailers of cannabis products in New Brunswick. A list of approved private retailers is available online,” said the department.