Four more arrests in marijuana raids

Toronto Police continue searches of cannabis dispensaries

Toronto Police have arrested four suspects following a search of Bellwoods Dispensary at 872 Dundas St. West.

The arrests were made on Tuesday at about 8:30 p.m.

The suspects face charges of possession, possession of substance with purpose to traffic, and possession of substances obtained through crime. If convicted, they could serve prison sentences of up to 14 years.

Police have been raiding marijuana dispensaries across Toronto all month, including five Cannabis Culture dispensaries.

Activist Jodie Emery, who was arrested earlier this month in Vancouver following a raid of her Cannabis Culture shop, tweeted her outrage over the Toronto raids, calling them “sickening.”

“I do believe this is a political persecution to try and silence the most vocal critics of dispensary rage, and Cannabis Culture set an example for other locations,” Emery said.

She believes the raids are a result of the “corporate stock market interest, interested in owning and dominating the market through the use of government force,” she said.

Facing charges in the recent Toronto arrests are Scott Scaravelli, 40; Samson Okungbowa, 25; Sasha Soeterik-Powell, 36; and Matthew Willis, 29, all from Toronto.

They are scheduled to appear in court at Old City on April 25.

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Posted: Mar 15 2017 3:51 pm
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