Some Ottawa pot dispensaries back in business after police raids

At least two illegal marijuana dispensaries in Ottawa have reopened after police raids closed them down earlier this month.

Seven shops were shut down following complaints about the growing number of dispensaries in the city.

• Ottawa police put illegal pot shops on notice following raids
• ​Ottawa politicians applaud raids on marijuana dispensaries 

Two Green Tree Medical Dispensary locations visited by CBC News on Sunday were open for business, although shop attendants refused to provide any sort of comment.

"It's a reality," said Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury. "Until we have the federal framework in place and better coordination provincially ... it's going to be that game of closing and opening."

Fleury said he knows there are concerns in his ward about the illegal dispensaries and their effect on the community. People shouldn't stop giving their input on the issue because some of the dispensaries have reopened, he said.

"We have to continue to monitor, to enforce. Especially based on community complaints and community feedback and information gathering." 

On Nov. 4,  two marijuana shops in Fleury's ward were raided by police but that hasn't deterred others from getting into the business. He said he's aware of two new shops that have opened recently but still thinks the raids were a good idea.

"There's huge gains from the raids that have been put in place. I know that's contentious to say but the perception that these locations were offering legal marijuana is now clear that it is not. That element has been clarified," he said.

The federal government has promised to introduce legislation to legalize marijuana by the spring of 2017, but the possession, production and trafficking of marijuana remains illegal.

During the raids, Ottawa police arrested nine people and charged them with possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime.