Illegal medical marijuana dispensary in Fredericton could face charges, police warn
HBB Medical Inc. also has location in Moncton, plans to expand in N.B., N.S., N.L.
A medical marijuana dispensary in Fredericton could face charges or be searched, police warned in a statement on Thursday.
The Fredericton Police Force has opened a file on the facility, operating since May, and has "been following up," said spokeswoman Alycia Bartlett.
"Until the Blair Report is finalized, unauthorized dispensaries are trafficking in a controlled substance contrary to the CDSA Act," she said.
Officers have spoken with the owners and confirmed they have a licence to produce and possess medical marijuana, but not to dispense, said Bartlett.
New Brunswick has only one authorized medical marijuana producer, Organigram, located in Moncton, she said.
We are presently in consultation with our law enforcement partners to discuss next steps.- Alycia Bartlett, Fredericton police spokeswoman
Bartlett noted no building permit or zoning approval has been issued for the facility, but since the federal government is still considering legislation around the production of and sale of medical marijuana, it is not captured in any zoning bylaws, she said.
"Complaints will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, and we are presently in consultation with our law enforcement partners to discuss next steps."
The Fredericton facility, at 320 Wilsey Rd., is the first location opened by the Merchant family from St. George..
They opened a second location in Moncton on Aug. 3, are opening a Saint John storefront on Saturday and plan to expand into Rothesay, Dartmouth and St. John's, Brock Merchant told CBC News.
Merchant, who runs the company with his father, Hank, and brother, Bowe, said they understand the police must keep a watch of their business and could "raid" them at any time.
"However, we're just hoping that they don't," he said.
Merchant said HBB Medical Inc. has accumulated more than 750 clients.