Orangeville police have “educated” two store owners about the rules regarding the sale of CBD oil, with one of them claiming officers needed to be told it was a citronella plant — not marijuana — in the window of his business.

After the Banner heard rumours police had spoken to staff at the Altered Native and Stop And Smell The Roses (SASTR), police reported members of its criminal investigations bureau recently spoke to store owners “known to or believed” to be selling cannabis-based products such as CBD oils.

“I know there was correspondence to the landlords, property owners and to the business operators at both locations,” Const. Scott Davis said early Thursday morning. “We educated (SASTR) and (the Altered Native) with regards to the provisions of the Cannabis Act.”

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Police say the “proactive” measure was taken to educate both business owners and landlords of potential consequences of selling these products. To date, Orangeville police have not charged any business or property owner under the Cannabis Act to date.

When contacted by the Banner, Cody Coulson, owner of the SASTR franchise, which also has stores in Port Elgin, Hanover and Owen Sound, confirmed the Orangeville location has been temporarily closed.

Coulson has previously told the Banner his store sold legal hemp-derived products under Canada’s Industrial Hemp Regulation Program. He explained the SASTR locations have been closed so his company can prepare for the legal sale of recreational cannabis in the future.

“(Police) have provided us with the same Cannabis Act that has been in effect since legalization. The police have been in our stores on several occasions since we have opened,” Coulson told the Banner in an email.

“We did not close our store because of their visit,” he added. “We closed our store to better prepare ourselves for the opportunities that are ahead of us.”