The Port Alberni RCMP, in a combined investigation with the City of Port Alberni Bylaw Services, has seized cannabis being sold illegally and ticketed the business owner.
This is the second time since October that the Port Alberni Cannabis Club, located at 4805 Bute St., has been raided by police. The cannabis club was one of two dispensaries in Port Alberni raided and shut down on legalization day last October.
READ: Two Port Alberni cannabis dispensaries raided on legalization day
In January 2019, the City of Port Alberni did not renew the business licence for the Port Alberni Cannabis Club and in February zoning amendments were adopted by the city to remove all medical marijuana dispensaries in the city pending retail cannabis store applications.
The City of Port Alberni Bylaw Services has been investigating businesses for compliance of the Cannabis Control and Licencing Act (CCLA) and, over the past two weeks, have issued the Port Alberni Cannabis Club store owner four separate bylaw tickets for operating without a licence with $200 fines each time. The owner continued to conduct business despite the written and verbal warnings as well as the issuance of the bylaw tickets.
“With the recent adoption of bylaw regulations to permit lawful retail cannabis stores, the bylaw services department, in conjunction with RCMP, has been working hard to ensure that all unlawful businesses cease operations immediately,” said Flynn Scott, manager of City of Port Alberni Bylaw Services.
This morning (March 22), the Port Alberni RCMP General Investigation Section, entered the Port Alberni Cannabis Club and determined the marijuana (cannabis) dispensary was operating without a valid business licence and contrary to the CCLA.
Police seized various cannabis products that were visibly on display for sale. It is estimated that $11,000 of cannabis product was seized. The store owner was ticketed for selling cannabis without a licence under the Cannabis Control and Licencing Act and given a $575 fine.
