Toronto police start to crack down on illegal weed dispensaries

The city is beginning to crack down on illegal marijuana dispensaries who are continuing to operate without a license. 

Prior to the introduction of the Cannabis Act on Wednesday, as many as 92 known dispensaries had been operating in a strange grey zone of legality. 

But in the weeks leading up to legalization day, it became known that illegal dispensaries would have to close up shop before Wednesday in order to pursue a license in the future. 

City inspectors started handing out letters to landlords and dispensary owners yesterday outlining potential penalties under the the new Cannabis Act.

The city's Licensing and Standards department, however, have said that of the 92 dispensaries, only 52 have closed down voluntarily.

#Cloud6 #dispensary #raid @CP24 #toronto pic.twitter.com/8lYKJtDgB9

— Matthew Doherty (@mdohert) October 19, 2018

That means 36 stores are willing to risk it all by selling weed without a retail-operator license and retail store authorization from the AGCO. 

Toronto police say they raided 5 illegal dispensaries today — under the provincial Cannabis Act.
One of them was this one at 66 Fort York.
Lots of people going up to front door, only to find it locked. @globalnewsto pic.twitter.com/NRk8hCd6c9

— Kamil Karamali (@KamilKaramali) October 19, 2018

Five of these dispensaries were raided today. According to police there was no real reason for targeting these specific ones.

Here are the locations of the 5 illegal dispensaries that Toronto police’s Drug Squad raided today. @globalnewsto pic.twitter.com/jb3w3PgjE1

— Kamil Karamali (@KamilKaramali) October 20, 2018

If tried and sentenced, illegal dispensary owners could, at best, lose their right to ever apply for a license in the future. 

In the last hour since CAFE got shut down for illegally selling #marijuana, I must have counted at least 150 people that walked up to the door. @CityNews @680NEWS pic.twitter.com/rhL7INuDio

— Tony Fera (@tonyfera1) October 19, 2018

At worst, they could face up to 14 years in prison for illegal distribution or sale of cannabis under the Cannabis Act.