Polics say that legal medical marijuana licences which are issued by Health Canada are being used to mask illegal grow operations.
Over the past 13 months members of the Niagara Regional Police Service Guns, Gangs, and Grows Unit have executed 3 search warrants at 1651 Lakeshore Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake. As a result of these 3 search warrants, Police arrested a total of 18 people, and seized 4015 marijuana plants. The most recent warrant was executed on October 3, 2016. All matters are before the courts. These investigations have revealed that the persons arrested are shrouding their criminal activities by using legal medical marijuana licences to over produce marijuana plants. Police believe that the marijuana is not used for medical purposes, but rather sold on the black market for financial gain. The 4015 plants that were seized represent a value over $4,000,000.00.
Police believe that illegal marijuana grow operations pose a significant threat to the public and those who operate them. The persons operating them become vulnerable to the criminal subculture. Recently an illegal grow operation was the site of a violent home invasion robbery, where firearms were used.
Police do not believe that every medical marijuana licence issued by Health Canada is being used for illegal purposes, but rather that the majority of these licences are used for legitimate medical purposes, by law abiding citizens and encourage anyone who believe that someone is growing marijuana illegally to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service, Guns, Gangs, and Grows Unit.
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