05/28/2016
TORONTO DISPENSARIES COALITION
PUBLIC STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE DISSEMINATION
Toronto, Ontario, May 27, 2016 - The Toronto Dispensary Coalition today announced that Toronto police raided numerous medical cannabis dispensaries throughout the city yesterday. Staff at many of the dispensaries were arrested and charged by police with alleged trafficking offences.
There are reports that hundreds of police officers, who normally work in other areas, including human trafficking investigations, were pulled off their important work to participate in the raids.
Many dispensary staff who were charged by police are known to have good hearts and care about helping their patients. These staff typically pay income taxes, CPP and EI premiums on the wages they earn while working at dispensaries. It is grossly unfair that these mostly young, hard-working people who have now lost their jobs will end up with criminal records - for taking jobs doing something that they believe in.
The large majority of dispensaries serve high-quality medical cannabis products to patients in Toronto and across Canada. Many of these dispensaries' patients have had their constitutional right to medical cannabis restricted yesterday.
All dispensaries of which we are aware sell only to patients in the age of majority. Dispensaries provide a respectful, safe, non-stigmatizing environment for patients to access medical cannabis.
Most dispensaries also collect HST on their sales of medical cannabis products, which is remitted to the CRA. These sums make a substantial contribution to federal and provincial coffers. However, these revenues will not be enough to cover the multi-million dollar expenses arising from yesterday's raids, which have put dozens of good people unnecessarily into the criminal justice system.
The Toronto Dispensaries Coalition would ask the City of Toronto, its Councilors, and all relevant bodies to look timely at bringing in reasonable, appropriate regulations for the medical cannabis industry operating in the city. Also, on behalf of any persons charged with offences today, we would ask the Toronto Police to consider dropping any and all charges laid as part of their raids.
About The Toronto Dispensaries Coalition (TDC):
Toronto Dispensaries Coalition (TDC) provides a voice to medical cannabis patients, and the people and dispensaries that serve them across the Greater Toronto Area. The TDC advocates for dropping any charges made against dispensary staff, and promotes reasonable and appropriate regulation of the medical cannabis and dispensary industry in Toronto.
The TDC is supported by numerous patients, dispensaries, as well as the Canada Friendly Business Association (CFBA), the Canadian Association of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries (CAMCD), Women Grow Toronto (WGT), the Cannabis Association of Canada (CAC), and the Cannabis Growers of Canada (CGC).
For more information about the Toronto Dispensaries Coalition, please contact: Adolfo Gonzales, TorontoDispensariesCoalition@gmail.com
