EDMONTON–Police warned of a crackdown on unlicensed cannabis sales Friday after making their first retail store bust since legalization.

Police have charged a 65-year-old man under the Cannabis Act who they say he was selling products containing cannabis from an unlicensed northwest Edmonton storefront near 150 St. and 118 Ave.

Edmonton Police Service cannabis liaison Const. Dexx Williams said officers executed a warrant Wednesday based on a tip they received late last year, and seized numerous products, including CBD creams, CBD waters, cannabis seeds, and CBD-infused deodorant.

Williams said police have tried to work with unlicensed distributors of cannabis products, but the grace period is over.

“There is definitely no shortage of people who are currently facing criminal consequences,” he said.

“There will be more arrests, for sure.”

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Police say the total retail value of Wednesday’s seizure amounted to roughly $12,000.

Nizarali Lakhani, 65, has been charged with unauthorized possession of cannabis (organization), possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling, and two counts of unauthorized sale of cannabis.

If convicted, he faces up to 14 years in prison under new, strict penalties the federal government introduced to coincide with legalization last October.

“It’s vital that the public understands the magnitude of the consequences. They have significantly increased post-legalization,” Williams said.

Williams is currently the police service’s only cannabis liaison, but his team will soon get 10 new members.

He said police are getting three to five tips a week about vendors selling cannabis without a proper licence, whether from their homes, retail stores, farmer’s markets, or trade shows.

Police have also been tipped off about delivery drivers on different apps who are illegally delivering pot.

“Right now, it’s a matter of just prioritizing who and what investigations we focus on, and go from there,” Williams said.

“We were trying to get education and awareness out there. But we are now in March of 2019. That process has been done.”

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid derived from hemp or marijuana plants — as opposed to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is largely responsible for the “high” that people feel when they consume cannabis.

Because of the chemical’s mild effect, Williams said some vendors still think CBD-infused products are legal to sell without a licence.

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Only licensed producers can legally make CBD, and only retailers licensed by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) can sell them. The products seized Wednesday, Williams said, were not legal to begin with.

He said police have identified a range of business across the city illegally selling CBD-infused creams, oils, and pills. Some of those businesses include massage therapists, vitamin stores and pet shops.

Even low-level employees selling the products are at risk of criminal charges, and anyone buying the products — even if they’re not aware the items are illegal — can be charged with possession.

“Someone who’s working a booth at a trade show selling CBD cream, someone who’s at a farmer’s market selling edibles — not only is the owner of that venue going to be charged, but anyone working that booth is also liable for charges as it relates to distribution,” Williams said.

He said it’s important for police to enforce cannabis regulations to ensure customers are getting products that have been tested for safety.

Another reason, he said, is to protect the investments of businesspeople who have gone through the licensing process.

“We do have numerous Edmontonians who have invested significant money and resources to go about the proper regulatory requirements,” Williams said.

“For them to go through all of these steps, invest all of that money, and then have someone just open up an illegal operation selling illegal products, taking away business from them, is also not fair to Edmontonians.”

Cannabis became legal last October, when four Edmonton stores opened to much fanfare.

The retail market became plagued with a shortage of product, with the provincial distributor, the AGLC stating only about 20 per cent of licensed producers were hitting their production quotas.

Retail stores and the government’s own online store are consistently running low on stock.

Williams said he believes the shortage of legal weed is contributing to the continued success of the black market.

“I don’t think anybody is naive enough to think that this arrest is going to make a dent in the illegal sales of cannabis,” he said. “However, for the family of this owner and the owner himself, now facing up to 14 years in prison, it has made a significant impact on his life.”

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