Marc Emery fined $5,000 after raids on six Montreal Cannabis Culture shops
Montreal police raided six Cannabis Culture dispensaries on 16 December 2016, arresting ten people including Marc Emery and seizing about 18 kg of cannabis. Emery pleaded guilty to trafficking in May 2018 and was fined $5,000 after the other charges were dropped.
Montreal police raided six Cannabis Culture dispensaries across the city on the evening of Friday 16 December 2016, a day after they opened, starting around 5.30 pm.[1]Officers arrested ten people, including co-owner Marc Emery at the Mont-Royal Avenue shop, and seized about 18 kilograms of cannabis along with money and equipment.[1][2]Those arrested faced charges of drug trafficking and possession for the purpose of trafficking; Emery was additionally charged with conspiracy.[1][2]His wife Jodie was also arrested and released within hours, while Emery spent the night in jail before release on a $5,000 bond that barred him from Quebec except for court dates and from cannabis businesses and associates.[2][3]All but one of those arrested were released on promises to appear.[3]
Guilty plea and fine
On Wednesday 30 May 2018 a Montreal court fined Emery $5,000 for drug trafficking after he pleaded guilty; the possession and conspiracy charges were dropped.[3][4]The Crown said he received a lighter sentence because the federal government was on the verge of legalizing cannabis.[3]Emery called Quebec’s coming government-run sale model a disaster as he left the courthouse.[3]
Photos and video
Montreal police raid a Cannabis Culture shop at Ste-Catherine Street and Pie-IX Boulevard. Photo: Danny Gosselin/Radio-CanadaPhoto details
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