Agassiz/Chilliwack – MAY 24 UPDATE – Well that didn’t take long. After it’s March 2017 opening, by this past Wednesday, the WeeMedical Wellness Centre was shut down in Agassiz (Pioneer Avenue), for the same reason as its predecessor in Chilliwack. Selling pot illegally. RCMP confiscated the contents of the store via a search warrant.
MARCH 9 UPDATE – If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
In January, WeeMedical Wellness Centre had their Chilliwack business license revoked for “non-compliance” and they were fined $44,000. They closed their doors and no one knew what they would do next. They have now opened up shop on Pioneer Avenue in Agassiz, and according to reports, they are operating without a business license. While there will always be the argument pro and con for medicinal marijuana, the business has caused controversy over whether or not they comply with local business laws, let alone the Federal marijuana laws.
No word as of press time on any action to be taken by RCMP or the District of Kent/Agassiz. There has been little fanfare on social media from pro-pot activists on the opening.
JANUARY 24 UPDATE – Chilliwack City Council vote unanimously to revoke the biz license of WeeMedical Wellness. This has been an ongoing concern for the City as the official position is that pot shops are not welcomed by the City and will stay that way until federal Marijuana rules change. Before the vote, the WeeMedical representative told Council that there was ‘no evidence’ of pot sales and the product that was seized was for other sites. (Wee Medical have other store fronts). After a pause to receive legal advice, Council returned to the Chambers to give their NO vote.
From the City Website:
May 3 2016 UPDATE – To no one’s surprise, WeeMedical Marijuana dispensary business licence was unanimously denied by Chilliwack city council.
April 26 UPDATE – A Reconsideration Hearing for a Business License for WeeMedical Dispensary Society is being held in an open meeting (which means the public can attend) of Chilliwack City council on Tuesday, May 3rd, 2016 at 3:00 pm. The venue is 8550 Young Street in Chilliwack.
TUESDAY UPDATE – One person was taken into custody and later released by RCMP following a police drug raid on a local store.
The raid stemmed from a report received by police on April 15, 2016 of alleged illegal cannabis sales from a shop in the 46000 block of Fifth Avenue. Officers of the Chilliwack RCMP Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) conducted surveillance of the address as they covertly gathered evidence in their investigation leading up to the search.
On April 18, 2016 at approximately 2:45 p.m. investigators of the RCMP Crime Reduction Unit executed a Controlled Drug and Substance Act (CDSA) search warrant on the premises.
Drugs believed to be marihuana, cash, and store records were seized by officers during the execution of the warrant.
“This is the second CDSA search warrant executed by the Chilliwack RCMP CRU at this address in April. Chilliwack CRU officers are continuing to pursue their CDSA investigation of the transactions conducted by the store’s proprietors. After a thorough investigation has been completed, the evidence collected will be reviewed by investigators to determine whether police will be submitting all circumstances of the investigation in a report to Federal Crown Counsel for their assessment of Controlled Drug and Substance Act charges,” said Cpl. Mike Rail.
For details of the CDSA search warrant executed by the Chilliwack RCMP CRU on April 6, 2016 visit Marihuana sales outlet raided by Mounties.
As always RCMP remind everyone who witnesses anything they believe to be suspicious in nature to contact the Chilliwack RCMP at 604-792-4611 or should you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
April 15 UPDATE – 10 days after WeeMedical was shut down, the doors have reopened, with three new employees. With new management, they continue their “crusade” to make safe, reliable medical cannabis and related products available to people in Chilliwack.
Councillor Jason Lum told FVN that they too, as their predecessors, have not applied for a city business licence and are breaking the law. The new staff are waiting for another shutdown but will remain open until they are either raided by RCMP, shut down by the City, or both.
April 6 UPDATE – WeeMedical pot Dispensary has been shut down by RCMP.
A RCMP tactical team showed up at the front door Tuesday afternoon at 5PM. According social media, customers were in the store at the time of the raid.
A No Occupancy order was posted on the door, and all signage was removed from the building’s windows and street front.
An employee who ran the shop, Shayli Vere, posted on the dispensary’s Facebook page that she had been held by police (in police cell) during the search and eventually released.
She has parted ways with WeeMedical ownership citing the owner’s “focus only on the profits made without proper pay or support to their staff.”
RCMP Released this statement :
One person was taken into custody and later released by RCMP following a police drug raid of a local store.
The raid stemmed from a report received by police on March 11, 2016 of alleged illegal cannabis sales at a shop in the 46000 block of 5th Avenue. During the weeks following the report, officers of the Chilliwack RCMP Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) conducted surveillance of the address as they covertly gathered evidence in their investigation leading up to the search.
On Tuesday April 5, 2016 at approximately 5:20 p.m. investigators of the RCMP Crime Reduction Unit executed a Controlled Drug and Substance Act (CDSA) search warrant of the premises.
Drugs believed by police to be marihuana, store records, and cash were seized by officers during the execution of the warrant.
“Chilliwack CRU officers are continuing to pursue their CDSA investigation of the transactions conducted by the store’s proprietors. After a thorough investigation has been completed, the evidence collected will be reviewed by investigators to determine whether police will be submitting all circumstances of the investigation in a report to Federal Crown Counsel for their assessment of Controlled Drug and Substance Act charges,” said Cpl. Mike Rail.
As always RCMP remind everyone who witnesses anything they believe to be suspicious in nature to contact the Chilliwack RCMP at 604-792-4611 or, should you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
ORIGINAL STORY – FVN first learned about the Wee Medical Pot Dispensary through social media. What FVN found interesting was that the shop does not have a current phone number of Chilliwack based web sight on line.
Further investigation through Chilliwack City hall found that they opened their doors and sold their wares (Fifth Avenue off Young) without a valid business licence. in fact, they never applied for one, according to councillor Jason Lum.
And in total disregard for City Zoning , let alone current Federal pot laws.
The City of Chilliwack has now come down hard on the illegal pot shop.
They received notice of a daily fine of $1000 for operating without a City business license. The business’s two landlords are each receiving $500 daily fines, for a total of $2000 per day.
Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz was bemused “They’re obviously not in compliance with the laws of Canada.”
Chilliwack RCMP would not comment directly on the situation, although Cpl. Mike Rail stated the stock line from the RCMP “Businesses and/or individuals operating in contravention of the Controlled Drug and Substance Act (CDSA) and Health Canada Regulations may be subject to investigation and criminal charges in accordance to Canadian Laws.”
Wee Medical does have a local Facebook page with a petition to help them stay open and in business.
FVN has learned there are at least seven pot dispensaries in the Chilliwack area.
