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Richmond pot dealers show determination, but so do police

Dispensary located next to Richmond City Hall
Marijuana
Legalized recreational marijuana is coming to Richmond, as the federal government sticks to its deadline of July 2018. File photo

Richmond RCMP refuse to be fooled by a marijuana dispensary operating under the guise of a wellness centre, after busting the owners a second time in just over a month.

In January police executed a search warrant at the WeeMedical Wellness Center on Anderson Road, just a few yards from the front door of Richmond City Hall.

On Wednesday, after discovering the owners opened the shop again, police returned.

"This second search also yielded marijuana and marijuana-based products including baked goods, confectionaries, and other edible products. Many of the items were discovered concealed in an ATM machine within the establishment," stated police in a news release.

"This marks the second time in recent months that the Richmond RCMP has executed a search warrant at this location.  As the law stands today, selling marijuana in the manner that it was being sold at WeeMedical is illegal.  The Richmond RCMP will continue to address marijuana dispensaries in our community whether it be through prevention, awareness, and education,” said Staff Sergeant Wayne Flewelling, of the Richmond RCMP Serious Crimes Unit.

The store has been the recipient of numerous City of Richmond bylaw infraction tickets.

According to the City of Richmond, bylaw officers have been pursuing the store for some time for operating without a licence and had issued a number of tickets.

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The WeeMedical Wellness Center on Anderson Road, just across the street from Richmond City Hall, had received multiple violation tickets from bylaw officers for operating without a licence. - Alan Campbell/Richmond News

According to police, during the initial bust, around 180 small bags, believed to contain marijuana, and quantities of baked goods, confectioneries and other edible products, believed to contain marijuana, were seized.

The Mounties described a scene where they arrived at the store and, even after entering, their presence was barely noticed by staff, who were, apparently “preoccupied” with another activity.

Among the products seized by police were marijuana-laced gummy worms, jelly cola bottles, chocolate bars and potato chips.

“As the law currently stands, it is illegal to operate a business without a licence and it is illegal to sell or distribute marijuana/marijuana-based products. Full stop,” said Richmond RCMP’s Cpl. Dennis Hwang, in January.

“Until such time as the law changes, you can most certainly expect a visit from us.”

Ahead of the expected federal legalization of marijuana, the City of Richmond has already taken a proactive approach to preventing the potential proliferation of marijuana dispensaries across the city.

City councillors approved a bylaw amendment to ban dispensaries, but may revisit the issue should federal legalization take effect.

A federal report with a commitment to introduce legislation on legalizing marijuana is expected this spring, according to Canada’s Ministry of Justice.