The operators of the Waterloo Dispensary are facing charges relating to drugs and weapons.
The charges were laid after Tuesday’s raid of their medical marijuana storefront by Waterloo Regional Police.
According to court documents, 31-year-old Shady Louka and 29-year-old Nour Louka are charged with three counts of possessing marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, as well as other charges related to unlawfully storing guns and unlicensed possession of a butterfly knife.
The documents show that the two appeared in court Wednesday and were released on bail.
Requests for comment from the Loukas were not returned before this story was published. Their lawyer declined to comment.
The operator of another local dispensary, who asked not to be identified, described the drug trafficking charge as a “realistic” threat for him as well.
The man said Friday that he felt the weapons charges suggested police aren’t looking to crackdown on all marijuana dispensaries the way authorities have in Toronto.
He also said that he was concerned about public perception of his industry following Tuesday’s raid and subsequent charges.
“Now we’ll all be seen as gun-toting lawbreakers,” he said.
The man said his business initially stopped dispensing medical marijuana following the Waterloo Dispensary raid, but has since returned to normal operations.
“We’re back on track again and we are servicing our sick patients again,” he said.
Hal Mattson, a criminal defence lawyer, said in an interview that business owners trying to get a jump on the potential decriminalization of marijuana have to walk a fine legal line.
“The bottom line still is that possession of marijuana is illegal unless you have a licence,” he said.
With reporting by Nicole Lampa
