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Most of Ottawa’s two dozen illegal dispensaries have closed. The provincial government warned that anyone still working at an illegal dispensary after Oct. 17 would not be allowed to apply for a licence to run a legal shop. The new law also has heavy fines for shops illegally selling marijuana and the landlords who rent space to them, and it allows police to close shops.

Another Ottawa dispensary that remained open, Capital Buds on Churchill Avenue, also had a steady stream of customers on Saturday. It closed for a few hours on Wednesday morning, then reopened.

A manager there said he hoped the provincial government could be convinced to allow them to apply for a licence even though they continued to operate illegally. “We are doing a public service,” said the man, who said his first name was Adam.

Some customers are older and don’t understand how to order online, while others don’t have computers or credit cards, which are all needed to buy at the government store, he said.

He plans a meeting with operators of other dispensaries that have closed down. “I know for sure some of them will be popping back up.”

A clerk inside Capital Buds said customers wanted to see the product and talk to staff who could explain the effects of various strains.

The clerk also said he was suspicious about marijuana sold at the government’s online store, where products are from growers licensed by Health Canada.

Another clerk on duty said he used a prepaid credit card to order from the government store on Wednesday. “I haven’t even gotten my email saying it’s been shipped.”

Five dispensaries were raided and closed in Toronto on Friday, but neither of the Capital Buds clerks was concerned about the possibility of a raid at their location.

“We’re not doing anything wrong,” one said with a shrug, plopping dried buds on a scale to measure them before putting them in a plastic baggie. “We’re good!”