An Indigenous-owned cannabis dispensary in London, Ontario, has been shut down by police for the second time in as many months.
Late last month, police executed a search warrant at Spirit River Cannabis, located at 72 Wellington St. Officers seized approximately $41,000 worth of cannabis products, $6,700 in contraband tobacco, and $2,460 in cash. A 36-year-old man from London was arrested and is scheduled to appear in court on November 29.
This operation follows a previous raid in August, where similar actions were taken against the same establishment. The Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team (PJFCET), responsible for the raid, has been focusing on unlicensed cannabis retailers in the region.
Store Closure Notices and Legal Warnings
After the recent raid, police have posted notices on the trailers housing the dispensary, warning that anyone attempting to enter without permission from the Superior Court of Justice could face arrest for break and enter. The trailers, situated next to an office building near the Thames River, now stand empty.
In August, the first trailer was shut down, and a second one opened in October, only to be raided days later. Similar closure notices have been placed on both structures, emphasizing the legal repercussions of unauthorized entry.
Owner’s Assertion of Indigenous Rights
The owner of Spirit River Cannabis, who identifies as a Chippewa man, has previously stated that operating the store is an exercise of his constitutional and treaty rights. He argued that the land acknowledgment by the municipality recognizes London as part of the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, supporting his claim to operate without a provincial license.
In a past interview, he mentioned, “We’re exercising our constitutional rights to fend off economic challenges.” The owner had also faced charges in 2018 after a raid at his dispensary on Chippewas of the Thames First Nation. A constitutional challenge was launched against those charges, which were eventually dropped in May 2022.
Regulatory Compliance and Community Response
Spirit River Cannabis is not licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), which regulates cannabis retailers in the province. Under AGCO regulations, retailers must:
- Not promote products as medicine or health products.
- Charge applicable taxes.
- Source products from federally licensed providers.
The dispensary operated 24 hours a day, accepted cash only, sold products tax-free, and advertised them as traditional medicine. Nearly all products were “sourced by First Nations people,” according to the store.
Local authorities have emphasized the importance of complying with provincial regulations to ensure community safety and legal operation. The ongoing enforcement actions reflect a broader effort to address unlicensed cannabis sales in the area.
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