A Peterborough man is facing drug charges after police raided an illegal cannabis dispensary in downtown Peterborough.
On Tuesday (March 9), Peterborough police executed a search warrant at The Medicine Box at 181 Charlotte Street, with signage that identifies the store as “Psychic Studio – Palm Tarot Card Psychic Readings” (the signage is from the business that was previously at this location).
Police located and seized a large quantity of marijuana and edibles and arrested and charged 36-year-old Nathaniel Berard, of Romaine Street in Peterborough, with possessing cannabis for the purpose of selling and sale of cannabis to an individual 18 years of age or older.
Police released Berard from custody. He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, March 24th.
In February, the Peterborough Examiner reported the store has been selling recreational marijuana for months and that police were aware of the store, which has been operating 11 hours a day, seven days a week.
“An investigation of a potentially illegal dispensary, and the shutting down of an illegal dispensary, is a complex process that requires extensive resources from our service and takes many months to complete,” wrote police spokesperson Lauren Gilchrist in an email to the Examiner.
The illegal cannabis dispensary has been operating while Peterborough awaits its first legal cannabis retail store, Growers Retail at 225 George Street North in downtown Peterborough.
Located near the corner of Sherbrooke Street and across from No Frills, the store will be open once the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has approved the business’s cannabis retail store authorization application.
