Officers with the New Brunswick Department of Justice and Safety recently announced that they arrested seven people and seized cannabis-related items and cash following searches at three locations selling cannabis without a licence.
Officers seized several kilograms of dried cannabis and pre-rolls, along with cannabis products, including gummies, hash, shatter, and cannabis and nicotine vape cartridges.
The first search warrant was executed on April 5 at Cloud Nine Vape at 10 Germain St. in Saint John, where a 35-year-old man, a 22-year-old man, and a 25-year-old woman, all from Saint John, were arrested and are now facing charges under the federal Cannabis Act. This is the second time in recent months that the 10 Germain St. location has been raided.
All three of those arrested were released from custody and will appear in court at a later date.
Officers say they seized:
- 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
- $1,051 in cash
In the second raid, on April 4 at the Queen-E Smoke and Vape Outlet at 540 Pinewood Rd. 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.
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
- $2,132 in cash (including cash in ATM)
A search warrant was also executed on April 4 at another Queen-E Smoke and Vape Outlet in Moncton at 1631 Mountain Rd.
A 55-year-old Maple Hills (Lakeville district) woman was arrested and faces a charge under the federal Cannabis Act.
She was later released and is scheduled to appear in court on June 24.
Peace officers seized:
- 1.25 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
- $3,116 in cash (including cash in ATM)
Legislation was tabled recently in New Brunswick that will allow the province to more aggressively target illegal cannabis stores. The provincial government has introduced amendments to its Cannabis Control Act with the goal of increasing compliance with provincial rules, reducing the sale of illegal cannabis, and preventing young people from consuming the drug.
Once passed, the proposed amendments to the act and its regulation would give inspectors more authority and increase fines for those operating illegal dispensaries and their landlords. They have been introduced as Bill 29, An Act Respecting Cannabis Control Act.
Despite this new bill, the province maintains that it cannot enforce its cannabis rules on businesses operating in First Nations communities and reserves.
In March, peace officers with the New Brunswick Department of Justice and Public Safety arrested two people and seized contraband cannabis and other illegal products from two unlicensed cannabis stores.
The province has recently announced several new licensed cannabis locations, including one on Germain Street in Saint John, with a goal of supplanting these kinds of unlicensed stores.
Featured image via New Brunswick Department of Justice and Public Safety.
