Dispensary re-opens in new location day after other locations raided and padlocked

The day after Hamilton Police raided and padlocked four illegal marijuana dispensaries operated by Georgia Peach, the company reopened another one at a new location ready for business.

Last Thursday, four Georgia Peach marijuana dispensary locations were raided and seized by Hamilton Police, resulting in 25 arrests and a total of 50 charges being laid. The locations were all locked up and barred.

But the very next day, Georgia Peach posted on Facebook letting customers know they were open on George Street, and its other locations are "closed temporarily."

Hamilton police deputy chief Dan Kinsella says the new location shows just how much resources illegal dispensaries have.

"It just speaks to the challenge we have with the dispensaries in general, and most notably for this particular organization it just shows the resources, whether those resources be supply, staff, or buildings," said Kinsella.

"We have to continually obviously abide by the law and make sure we take the appropriate steps legally to close down the illegal dispensaries, so we'll continue to do that," said Kinsella.

Kinsella hopes the courts will support police efforts by adding "stiff penalties" for individuals and owners who appear before the courts.

He says they will continue the work on shutting down illegal dispensaries and says "they're aware" of the new location and other dispensaries in the city.

Georgia Peach declined to comment on their new location.

Earlier this month, police executed a search warrant at HaZe dispensary on King Street East and it was the first time officials in Hamilton had shut down an illegal pot shop by locking the doors and installing an alarm to stop it from reopening.