Illegal marijuana dispensaries popping up in Ottawa

Ottawa police say they're "aware" of medical marijuana dispensaries popping up illegally across the city, including one in Vanier that just opened its doors last weekend.

The Green Tree Medical Dispensary on Montreal Road, open since Sunday, sells dried cannabis and edibles like cookies and brownies to medical marijuana patients if they provide proof of a doctor's prescription.

One of Green Tree's consultants, Tyshanna Bryant (who calls herself a "bud tender"), told CBC News the dispensary is "good for access" for patients who need medical marijuana to treat a long list of ailments from cancer to insomnia.

"Because of cannabis, people are able to cure their pain and live more comfortable lives," she said.

Storefront dispensaries illegal

But under current Canadian law, storefront dispensaries like the Vanier operation are illegal, and patients are only allowed to acquire medical marijuana from licensed producers.

A recent joint statement from the federal ministers of Justice, Health, and Public Safety that introduced the Task Force on Marijuana Legalization and Regulation reminded Canadians that "possession, production, and trafficking of marijuana remain illegal."

Although the federal government's goal is to introduce legislation to legalize marijuana by the spring of 2017, its statement pointed out that illegal activity "includes storefronts selling marijuana, commonly known as 'dispensaries' and 'compassion clubs.' These operations are illegally supplied, and provide products that are untested, unregulated and that may be unsafe.

"The Government of Canada supports law enforcement actions to address illegal storefront distribution and sale of marijuana in Canada."

Police "aware of locations"

Ottawa police spokesperson Const. Chuck Benoit said police are "aware of locations," and that they'll look into these dispensaries as they "pop up" throughout the city, but he wouldn't say how many are on the police radar.

"We're working with the laws that we still have," said Benoit.

Bryant wouldn't identify an owner of the Montreal Road dispensary, but said she knows police are aware of its presence in the community.

"I haven't heard from police, but I do know they're well-prepared," she said, referring to recent raids of similar dispensaries in Toronto.

"To be honest with you, it's a grey area. Legalization is long overdue," she added.