After the city took the unusual step of physically barring entry to four illegal cannabis dispensaries, one location has reopened — the hefty concrete blocks now stacked neatly beside the building.

Late Wednesday and early Thursday, workers from the city’s Municipal Licensing and Standards (MLS) department placed the blocks in front of the doors at each of the dispensaries — all of which were operating under the name “CAFE.”

It’s unclear who removed the blocks and how, but the CAFE cannabis dispensary at 104 Harbord St. was allowing customers back in by Thursday afternoon.

In an email, City of Toronto spokesperson Lyne Kyle said the MLS director of investigative services, Mark Sraga, confirmed the blocks had been removed.

“As the blocks belong to the City, this is considered theft. Toronto police are investigating,” said Kyle.

Sraga said that entering barred premises is a contravention of the Cannabis Control Act, according to Kyle.

“While the measure is rarely applied, the city says the use of concrete blocks is one of its more effective strategies to force compliance with closure orders when the operators would otherwise simply reopen their businesses.

“These people just blatantly violate the law,” said Sraga.

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Sraga said bylaw enforcement officers had repeatedly visited and inspected the dispensaries as part of enforcement efforts. In addition to physically blocking access, officers also seized some products and laid a total of 70 charges, he said.

Under the Cannabis Control Act, a corporation found guilty of illegal cannabis operations can face penalties of up to $1 million, while individuals face a minimum fine of $10,000.

In an emailed statement to the Star, CAFE did not respond to questions about the charges it faces but said the business exists to fill “a necessary void.”

“It is without question that the Ontario Cannabis Store system and its subsequent rollout of cannabis retail in Ontario is flawed,” the unsigned statement said. “We are here to provide reasonable dignified access to the many Canadians who have come to rely on us.”

Sraga said the crackdown on illegal cannabis operators has been largely successful, with the number dropping from nearly 40 last year to approximately 10.

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Bylaw officers specifically targeted the CAFE dispensaries with the concrete blocks because they are believed to operate with a high level of “sophistication,” he said, calling the CAFE operator a repeat violator.

“We’re talking millions of dollars here,” Sraga said.

At the CAFE location at 66 Fort York Blvd., near Bathurst St., a handful of employees referred customers to the store at 104 Harbord St.

The other CAFE locations that were blocked were at 1321 St. Clair Ave. W. and 932 Bloor St. W.

Resident Christine Bailie said she was walking her dog on Wednesday when she saw crane operators stacking the concrete blocks in front of the Fort York Blvd. store as two police cruisers sat nearby.

Bailie said she has seen long lines of people waiting to purchase cannabis at the store and has had difficulty explaining it to her six-year-old son.

“I just say it’s something worse than smoking,” she said.

“I’m not their customer but I just want to feel safe,” she added, noting cannabis has been legalized and those who sell it should be allowed to do so in a safe environment.

Recreational user Don Harvey, 33, was shocked to find the wall of blocks at the store he usually buys from.

“That’s crazy. Why would they do that?” he said outside the Fort York store. “I think the city is doing it wrong because blocking them by force will send the business back into the black market.”

Sraga said the city is aware of claims that a person was trapped inside the store and couldn’t get out because of the blocked doorway. He dismissed the allegation, saying that enforcement officers and police always announce their presence and conduct a thorough search before a building is blocked off.

“Evidence shows that someone broke back into the premise, and that cannabis was once again being sold from the location,” he said, adding the issue will be heard before the court. Before the blocks were removed, Sraga said that they would stay in place until the matter is resolved in court, he said, a process that can take two years or more.

In the meantime, “we are here to enforce compliance,” said Sraga, who would not rule out more concrete barriers being installed at other dispensaries.

“Any illegal stores can expect action to be taken.”