Article by Christy Somos, CTV News A belief that Ontario’s lottery system is ‘unfair’ to dispensaries looking to enter the legal market is why illegal dispensaries stay open despite legal ramifications, says cannabis lawyer. Last week, after 18 people were arrested in connection with the Café chain of cannabis dispensaries across Toronto, police blocked the entrances with cement blocks. The barricades ...

Article by Chris Doucette, Toronto Sun While illegal storefront dispensaries, once abundant in the city, finally seem to be going up in smoke, black market cannabis sales have grown like weeds online. And untangling the web of illegal cannabis sales on the internet may prove to be a herculean task — too big for any one police agency to tackle. ...

Article by Jonah Shinuda, inBurlington Plans are underway regarding a second cannabis store that is planned to open in Burlington. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) recently authorized Pioneer Cannabis Co., located at the 1200 Brant Street plaza at North Service Road and the QEW, to operate in Burlington. Notice of authorization was sent to the city on Thursday, July 25. At ...

Article by Peter Smith, Daily Hive Toronto police and the operators of cannabis dispensary CAFE continue the tit-for-tat game of cat and mouse also cat against one another. The unlicenced retail outlet’s four Toronto locations have been shut down multiple times, blocked off with concrete blocks, and are constantly being visited by police. Yet in spite of this, cannabis continues to be ...

Article by Waterloo Region Record OPP and local police busted an illegal cannabis storefront in Kitchener on Thursday. Police seized cannabis, cash, computers and cellphones. Police would not identify the location of the store. Two Kitchener men, ages 28 and 32, face charges of possessing cannabis for the purpose of selling and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000. ...

Article by Jesse B Staniforth, Leafly Toronto media has watched in wonder over last two weeks as bylaw officers and police used concrete blocks to bar the entrance to all locations of the CAFE chain of unlicensed dispensaries. During the first cement-blockings of CAFE locations two weeks ago, an evicted tenant got into a shoving match with police as they seized his ...

Article by Tyler Harper, Nelson Star Five people arrested at a Nelson cannabis dispensary last year will not face charges. A spokesperson for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) told the Star on Thursday that charges submitted by the Nelson Police Department after officers raided MMJ Canada’s Nelson location on March 20, 2018 did not meet an approval standard. The spokesperson ...

Article by Enzo Dimatteo, Now Toronto Nova Cannabis, 499 Queen W. BUZZ Airy. Most user-friendly of Toronto’s legal pot shops. COOL Emphasis on the consumer experience; cannabis education sessions offered every Thursday; helpful cue cards on display with info on strains; decent selection of accessories for your smokables – the other places try too hard; you can order using giant touch screen. NOT ...

Article by Soj Ramsay-Taylor, Leafly If you’ve been living under a rock in Toronto, or rather, a few 4,000 pound cement blocks, you may have missed headlines circling around one of the most notorious yet beloved illegal dispensaries in the city, Cannabis and Fine Edibles (or CAFE for short). In recent weeks, the city has ramped up enforcement efforts to ...

Article by Colin Perkel, Global News A man evicted from his home and whose possessions were seized has launched a legal challenge to new Ontario legislation that aims to weed out illegal cannabis sales. In an unproven application before Superior Court, Jeffrey Brodie argues the provisions enacted by the government of Premier Doug Ford this month are unconstitutional on several levels. Key ...