It cost the city more than $350,000 to install — and then reinstall — giant concrete slabs to block the entrance to four illegal cannabis shops in Toronto last summer.

The city’s senior communications adviser Alex Burke said the total cost was $361,459.49, which included the costs of labour to install, remove and reinstall the giant concrete blocks as well as paying structural engineers and security, and noted those dollars didn’t come from the city budget.

“The city has received monies from the provincial government to support the establishment and implementation of an enforcement strategy for cannabis in the city of Toronto,” Burke said in an email to the Star.

The back and forth between the city and shop owners started mid-July when workers from the department of Municipal Licensing and Standards (MLS) placed massive concrete blocks in the doorways of four cannabis shops, all owned and operated by Cannabis and Fine Edibles (CAFE).

At the time, city officials said they specifically targeted CAFE locations because they say the owners were repeat violators believed to be earning “millions of dollars” in illegal cannabis sales.

But within hours of the closures, the location at 104 Harbord St. near Spadina Avenue and Bloor Street was reopened, after the giant blocks were moved aside overnight. The city reinstalled the blocks the next day.

CAFE owners and operators tried on several occasions to move the blocks and reopen for business at the other locations. Each time, the city reinstalled the slabs. At one point, people could be seen selling pot on the streets in front of the shut down shops.

A few weeks later, police arrested 17 people, including a 16-year-old boy. Charges included unlawful sale and distribution of cannabis, and possession of proceeds obtained by crime.

In September, CAFE spokesperson David Shuang disputed the charges, telling the Star there was nothing preventing their franchise from operating as an independently regulated cannabis retailer.

Burke said the city’s crackdown on illegal cannabis operators is still in effect. In fact, the city’s cannabis enforcement unit executed three warrants at CAFE locations Thursday last week, and laid new charges as part of the unit’s mandate to investigate unlawful activities, she said.

“MLS are still enforcing the (Cannabis Control Act),” she said. “All property owners and operators have been charged and are before the courts waiting disposition.”

But on Friday, all four locations where CAFE has shops were open for business, and people could be seen going in and out. Burke said the enforcement unit is required to bar entry to premises that are subject to closure under the CCA, but no new concrete blocks were mounted last week to halt the illegal sale of cannabis products.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

According to information on the website for the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, which regulates cannabis retail stores in the province, there are a total of six authorized cannabis shops in Toronto — with 11 others waiting for their licence approval.

A total of 27 stores across the province have been given the green light to start selling cannabis-infused edibles and products starting last week.