Two Canna Cabana cannabis stores in Burlington, Ontario, were the targets of arson early in the morning on August 22, say local police.
A representative with High Tide, which owns the Canna Cabana chain, tells StratCann that a third location in Ancaster, Ontario, was also targeted, at 14 Martindale Crescent.
Halton Regional Police say two fires were set deliberately at the store located at 2400 Guelph Line and then later at the Upper Middle Road store in Burlington, Ontario.
Police report that witnesses heard glass shatter around 4:20 am on August 22. An investigation by authorities determined that a brick had been thrown through the window of the store, and a man was seen pouring a liquid into the store and then lighting it. Police describe the person fleeing the scene as a black man driving a light-coloured van.
Five minutes later, at about 4:25 am, police say another fire was lit at the Canna Cabana store at 3505 Upper Middle Road. Both stores are located in a strip mall.
The Burlington Fire Department attended both scenes and put out the flames.
Canna Cabana is owned by High Tide and has 155 locations across Canada.
Omar Khan, chief communications and public affairs officer with High Tide Inc., confirms the attack and notes there were three locations targeted.
“Earlier today, two Canna Cabana stores in Burlington and one in Ancaster were vandalized. Based on similarities in the suspect’s description at each location and the way in which each attack was carried out, we believe that the three incidents may be linked.
“As a company whose business model is designed to entice illicit market consumers to shift to the regulated cannabis industry, we urge law enforcement agencies and governments at all levels to prioritize the protection of legal cannabis stores like Canna Cabana. These legal stores are at the vanguard of the battle against entrenched criminal elements who will do anything to stop the growth of Canada’s legal cannabis industry.”
The Regional Municipality of Halton, or Halton Region, includes the city of Burlington and the towns of Oakville, Milton, and Halton Hills. Policing in the Region is provided by the Halton Regional Police Service.
