Police say a raid at a downtown Kitchener pot dispensary should not come as a surprise – especially not to the owners of the business who received multiple warnings to shut down the illegal business.

On Friday night, Waterloo Regional Police raided Greentree, a downtown Kitchener pot dispensary. Three women and one man were arrested and each face a charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking.

"We understand there is some misconception with the law and some confusion, and that's why these dispensaries were given multiple warnings," Cherri Greeno with Waterloo Regional Police said Monday.

"Some shut down and some didn't," she said. "The law is still the law and we still have to enforce that law."

Legal ways for patients to get pot

Police seized $17,000 in cash along with a large amount of marijuana, hash, and other cannabis products like edible treats and beverages.

Greeno said there are no regulations surrounding what is for sale at illegal dispensaries, so there are safety concerns.

As well, police received calls from the public after some residents saw young people enter the dispensary.

Greeno said police know politicians have been discussing legalizing marijuana, but for now, the law states that these kinds of dispensaries are illegal.

She said patients who have prescriptions for medical marijuana have legal ways to do that and can get information from Health Canada.