VPD clarifies its role in yesterday’s pot shop raid
Posted March 10, 2017 9:46 am.
Last Updated March 10, 2017 2:41 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Following yesterday’s pot shop raids nation-wide, including one in Vancouver, police here are clarifying and defending their role. The Cannabis Culture store on West Hastings near Cambie Streets was raided by officers with Vancouver Police as similar stings took place at six other locations in Canada.
Now the VPD is addressing both the jurisdictional challenges and accusations of hypocrisy.
Staff Sergeant Randy Fincham says the department’s stance on pot shops hasn’t changed. “We still have a prioritized approach in dealing with marijuana stores in Vancouver. Possessing marijuana, selling marijuana remains illegal in Canada outside of the federal license program of Health Canada. We know many locations in Vancouver are operating an illegal enterprise. We continue to monitor these locations and we’ll respond to these locations.”
He adds Vancouver Police will not tolerate a store selling to minors, any organized crime activity, or uses threats or intimidation to run their business. And to be clear, no one has said Cannabis Culture was doing that.
However, as part of a search warrant obtained by the Toronto Police Service through their own investigation known as Project Gator, Fincham says the VPD is obligated to help for safety reasons, in case anything goes sideways. “[The] Toronto Police Service being from Ontario would be required to have representation from a BC police force to serve those warrants. Therefore, they are required to have the assistance of Vancouver Police if it’s in the City of Vancouver.”
Fincham says members of the TPS were in Vancouver prior to officers entering the building on West Hastings Street.
