Police pounce on suspected Windsor pot shops

At least two suspected retail pot shops were raided by police in Windsor on Thursday, including one previously targeted in November.

“Whatever — life goes on,” said Windsor pot activist Leo Lucier when asked about the latest drug raid on his Compassion House cannabis dispensary located at 405 Wyandotte St. W.

At the end of the day, is it legal or illegal?

A joint police task force, including officers from the Windsor Police Service and Ontario Provincial Police, swooped in on Lucier’s marijuana-based business and another, more recently opened cannabis dispensary, Envy, located in a commercial building at the corner of University Avenue West and Church Street.

Staff at the LCBO retail store across Church Street said Envy had only just opened in early February after a lengthy period of renovations at the space. On Thursday afternoon, the doors — sporting signage that patrons had to be 19 and over — were locked. While the lights remained on, the glazed windows prevented anyone from seeing what was inside.

A steady stream of mostly young males tried the locked doors before turning away disappointed. One man, who declined to give his name, told the Star he’d been advised this was where he could score some pot.

Neither city police nor the OPP would provide the Star with details of the raids, including the nature of what police were after or whether there were any arrests made or charges laid. A Windsor police source said city officers were involved and that a news release would be issued by week’s end.

An LCBO employee said he was told police entered Envy with guns drawn.

Lucier said he was nowhere near the business he owns when police raided the Compassion House for the second time since November, shortly after Canada legalized recreational marijuana for adults on Oct. 17. He said two people were there, running an operation that, since soon after the first raid, ostensibly provides free marijuana to those dropping off food and other donations for local charities.

“All the weed is donated through different growers,” said Lucier. He said people, even other businesses, have also been donating cash to help pay the rent and other bills.

Lucier and four others arrested in November became the first in Windsor to be charged under the new federal Cannabis Act, which came into force on the day of legalization. Their case is still before the courts.

Asked what happens next with Cannabis House, Lucier told the Star: “We’re not there yet — I don’t know what the future holds for that.”

In Ontario, the only legal source for recreational marijuana purchases is the online government-run Ontario Cannabis Store. The first few brick-and-mortar retail outlets aren’t expected to be operational until April, but Windsor is not yet on the radar to host such a business.

Meanwhile, consumer demand is huge, and a recent Windsor Star special report identified a booming growth in illegal dispensaries, both online (offering door-to-door deliveries) popping up since the new year. Insiders said when one gets shut down by authorities, another one quickly emerges to replace it.

“At the end of the day, is it legal or illegal?” said Lucier, a long-time pot activist who argues the marijuana marketplace should be a lot less restrictive.

Related

• Barred from selling pot, Windsor man now giving it away
• Scoring illegal pot is easy as Windsor experiences black market boom
• Windsor cops lay first Cannabis Act charges after city raid, five arrests

Lucier said his biggest efforts these days are with preparations for Windsor’s first post-legalization 4/20 Day. He said permits, music, speakers and entertainment are all lined up for the three-day event running April 18 to 20 in downtown Windsor.

“It’ll be a good show, a peaceful demonstration,” said Lucier. “Government says there’s a (pot) shortage — well, it’s an open market for those who are knowledgeable.”

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