On September 3, RCMP in Nova Scotia seized thousands of grams of cannabis from an unlicensed store, including a variety of “copycat” edible items.
East Hants District RCMP executed a search warrant at a storefront in Mount Uniacke, about an hour northwest of Halifax. Investigators say they located and seized around ten thousand grams of dried cannabis, as well as items associated with the illegal sale of cannabis, and a truck and trailer.
An image of the copycat products includes products packaged to look like common children’s cereals like Apple Jacks, Trix, and Fruit Loops, along with candy-like Kit Kat, Hershey, Skittles Nerds, and more.
“We located and seized cannabis products in bags and boxes that look like regular chocolate bars, candy, and cereal,” says Sgt. Scott Macrae, Operations NCO for East Hants District RCMP, in a press release. “Using branding and logos similar to familiar products means that these items could easily be consumed by kids who don’t realize that they are eating a cannabis edible.”
Such products are not uncommon in the illicit market. In December 2022, Health Canada released a warning regarding so-called “copycat edibles” increasingly being sold illegally across Canada that are often made to look like common sweets and snack foods.
While executing the search warrant, officials arrested two men, a 33-year-old from Kentville and a 29-year-old from Falmouth. The two are facing charges under the Cannabis Act, including possession for the purpose of selling and promotion of cannabis. Both men have been released pending upcoming court appearances.
The Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation operates 50 NSLC cannabis stores in the province. Google Maps shows one unlicensed cannabis store in the Mount Uniacke area, Greenwolf Cannabis. There was no answer when StratCann called the location prior to publication.
Law enforcement in Nova Scotia arrested three men on August 27 in Amherst when the Cumberland Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit (CISCEU) executed a search warrant at a trailer where cannabis was allegedly being sold.
On August 26, Kings District RCMP in Nova Scotia executed new search warrants at two illegal cannabis storefronts, one on Hwy. 12 in Welton Landing and one on Commercial St. in New Minas. Both locations were the subjects of previous warrants executed in July 2024.
Several staff members were arrested, and officers executed search warrants, leading to seizures of illicit cannabis, tobacco, and psilocybin. Officers also seized a trailer and pickup truck.
