HALIFAX—Police in the Halifax region have raided another marijuana dispensary, and are now apologizing for how they first reported the situation — which included some colourful language.

According to a strongly-worded statement released early Wednesday morning, Halifax RCMP say they searched Timberleaf Alternative Medical Society at 1920 St. Margarets Bay Rd. on Monday around 9 a.m.

Police said the store was “using a marketing ploy” and looking to attract customers “under the false statement that they only sell to people with medical prescriptions.”

“That is simply a lie and they will sell to anybody,” the first RCMP statement read. “The only legal seller of cannabis in Nova Scotia is Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) or a Health Canada approved online distributor.”

During the raid, police say they seized more than $60,000 in cannabis and cannabis-related products, some of which they allege was marketed towards kids. Police released a photo of a Lego-shaped block that they say was one of the items being sold. They say the blocks had THC levels above 500 mg., which “could be a fatal dose for a child.”

Two men were charged during Monday’s raid under the Cannabis Control Act. Police say more people could also face charges.

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Wednesday’s statement went on to say that Timberleaf Alternative Medical Society brought in almost $1 million sales in 2019 and spent more than $50,000 in expenses without paying tax.

“A small number of people are making extreme profit and operating under the radar of Canada Revenue Service. Most of these profits leave Nova Scotia and don’t support our local economy,” the RCMP statement said.

“Many persons object to government regulation and taxation involving cannabis sales; however, the taxation is necessary to fund the vital services everybody in the community uses and takes advantage of every day, such as public programs that help all of us with respect to the effects of addictions and medical services, schools and roads.”

In an update Wednesday afternoon, the RCMP issued a second, much shorter release containing fewer details. In that statement, police said the first release “included references and opinions that are outside of the scope of Nova Scotia RCMP.”

“We have taken measures to address the liberties that were taken in the release and apologize for the confusion it may have caused,” the second release issued about 12:45 p.m. Wednesday said.

In the amended release, which included none of the above statements, it said only one man was charged and that the owner of the building was given formal notice to end the lease agreement with the operator.

In an interview, Halifax RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Lisa Croteau said the decision to issue an apology and the shorter release was because the initial one didn’t meet the “proper format” and caused what she called “confusion with the public.”

She said “human error” was behind the first release being issued, noting a lot of people have access to writing releases, and extra training might be needed in the future.

“People more aware of what is going out there, that would be good for us to make sure happens,” Croteau said in reference to the RCMP and any release issued.

She did note there were no errors in the original release.

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This is the third raid at a cannabis dispensary in the Halifax region in the past month.

In late April, Halifax Regional Police charged 10 people after conducting searches at two marijuana dispensaries. They raided Doug’s Place in Fairview and seized about three pounds of cannabis, several cannabis products and more than $900. Police also conducted a raid of the Atlantic Compassion Club Society in Dartmouth, where they seized more than five pounds of cannabis, 2,500 cannabis products and more than $7,000.

Those two raids came less than two weeks after RCMP in Halifax raided a cannabis store in Sackville — on 4-20 day no less. Two people from Halifax were charged.

with files from The Canadian Press

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