Article content continued

Weeds is owned by B.C. pot entrepreneur Don Briere, who has waged a three-decade long fight for the legalization of marijuana. He once operated a massive grow-op network in B.C. and has been jailed three times on drug charges. Briere has said he pays taxes and wants to run a legitimate business. The federal government has promised to legalize recreational marijuana, but it could be a couple of years before the rules are in place.

The Weeds stores cater to medical marijuana patients. However, it’s illegal to sell marijuana from stores, regardless of who is buying it. Ottawa police have repeatedly warned the dispensaries popping up around town that they are breaking the law.

Simpson said she was aware of the risk, but still found it hard to believe when the store at 224 Bank St. was raided.

“It’s sad. I thought we were doing good for people.

“The (patients) aren’t getting what they need, and we’re there to try to help them out. Now you’re going to have a whole bunch of people going to the black market. I don’t see any good coming of that.”

Medical marijuana can be purchased, with a doctor’s prescription, from producers licensed by Health Canada. It’s sent by mail. But some patients have trouble getting a doctor’s prescription, or prefer the selection and convenience of shopping at the illegal dispensaries. Health Canada warns the products sold there are unregulated and may be unsafe.

Tuesday’s raid was the 11th police have conducted at Ottawa pot shops since November.

Employees have been charged with drug trafficking and possessing the proceeds of crime.

Simpson said the legal bills for the two women arrested Tuesday will be paid by the Weeds chain. The other Weeds store on Montreal Road was already closed temporarily because of the difficulty in hiring staff, said Simpson.

Photo by Julie Oliver / Postmedia

Weeds has about a dozen illegal dispensaries in B.C., one in Winnipeg, and new stores opening soon in Edson, Alberta and Saskatoon, according to the website.

jmiller@postmedia.com

twitter.com/JacquieAMiller