The Metrotown Medical Marijuana Dispensary was raided by Burnaby RCMP Thursday.
Burnaby's first medical marijuana dispensary opened on April 15 and is located at 4927 Kingsway.
The move shocked marijuana activists, who said the centre, which has been operating for nearly four months, follows all the same rules and procedures established by other B.C. dispensaries and has offered "cooperation to both the City of Burnaby and the Burnaby RCMP."
"At a time when the courts are striking down the medical marijuana laws because sick and suffering Canadians can't access this medicine, I'm very surprised that Burnaby RCMP would take this step." Kirk Tousaw, executive director of the Beyond Prohibition Foundation and attorney for the dispensary, said in a statement. "We will, if necessary, vigorously pursue a defence on Charter grounds and I have every reason to think it will be successful."
There have been several other raids on medical marijuana dispensary in B.C. recently, as the federal government cracks down on medical and non-medical marijuana users.
In an April interview with the Burnaby NOW, Metrotown Medicinal Society director Britney Anne said the society invited the Burnaby RCMP to the opening to address any concerns law enforcement might have, but officers did not attend.
Health Canada does not license such organizations to possess, produce or distribute marijuana for medical purposes, according to a government press release.
The federal Marihuana Medical Access Regulations only provide three options for individuals to obtain legal medical marijuana: access to Health Canada's supply, obtaining a licence to produce it from Health Canada, or obtaining a licence from Health Canada to designate someone to grow it on the individual's behalf.
A letter or document from a physician alone does not give legal authorization for an individual to possess marijuana, the release stressed.
The dispensary only accepts members who have a doctor's recommendation or confirmation of a serious illness, which is in line with other dispensaries in B.C., Anne said during the April interview.
"We aren't selling to just anybody," she said, but added that the dispensary has an unlimited capacity to serve any valid patients who wish to apply. "We do follow correct procedures."
The society was originally looking at setting up shop in New Westminster but chose the Burnaby property at 4927 Kingsway based on its central location and proximity to the Metrotown SkyTrain station.
The Metrotown dispensary is the first to be located near a SkyTrain line.
