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Saunders explained that the raids were prompted by “significant complaints” from the community, including petitions with dozens of signatures. His remark offered the first whiff of something odd. According to the polls, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canadians are overwhelmingly supportive of marijuana legalization. Even though the legislation hasn’t been written yet, much less voted on, storefront pot outlets have been popping up like dandelions in spring, first in Vancouver, now in Toronto, eager to cash in on the presumed demand.

Judging by what they tell pollsters, residents should be delighted. But it appears they’re not. It seems a lot of people don’t really want pot shops in their neighbourhood, or near schools, or playgrounds, even if the retailers call themselves “dispensaries” and pretend they’re serving “medicine” to “patients” as opposed to selling unregulated, potent pot to recreational consumers.

That leads to the second whiff. If the marijuana industry was as sober and responsible as it maintains, it would be delighted that police were clamping down on the free-for-all of illicit traders peddling a questionable product and giving authentic, licensed purveyors a bad name.

“These locations have a broad impact on surrounding neighbourhoods. There is no quality control on these products,” Saunders said. “This is no regulatory process behind this … You don’t know if you go to one store and purchase one brownie, or one muffin or cupcake. You go to the next store, how much THC is in this one versus that one? You don’t know … it’s a genuine health concern.”