TURMEL: Chris Enns Dispensary Charges Withdrawn!!

[KingofthePaupers]

TURMEL: Chris Enns Dispensary Charges Withdrawn!!

JCT: What great news.
https://globalnews.ca/news/3866947/halifax-cannabis-shop-owner-says-

charges-dropped-in-relation-to-three-raids/

Halifax cannabis shop owner says charges dropped in relation
to three raids
By Keith Doucette The Canadian Press

In a court hearing lasting just over one minute, the Crown
withdrew all charges against a Halifax marijuana advocate
stemming from a series of police raids at his medical cannabis
shop.

Chris Enns had planned Friday to launch a constitutional
challenge under Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights
and Freedoms in Nova Scotia Supreme Court.

READ MORE: 'I was within the limits of my licence': Halifax
marijuana dispensary owner arrested, charged again

However, Crown attorney Jill Hartlen informed Justice Jamie
Campbell that the charges filed under the Controlled Drugs and
Substances Act were being withdrawn.

Enns' business, Farm Assist Cannabis Resource Centre, had been
raided as part of ongoing trafficking investigations in 2013,
2014 and 2015.

In an interview following the hearing, Hartlen said the
regulations around medical marijuana access had changed since
the charges were filed. She noted that the previous Marijuana
for Medical Purposes Regulations were struck down by the
courts.

"With all the factors at play, we just questioned the
continued public interest in defending against a regime that
had already been struck down by another court," said Hartlen.
She also referenced the new Access to Cannabis for Medical
Purposes Regulations. "That regime is not being commented upon
by our actions and that regime actually offers a lot more
points of access to medical users," Hartlen said.

Outside court, Enns expressed relief that the court process
had officially drawn to a close. "What a weight off my
shoulders," said Enns. "I look forward to really continuing to
help medical patients in Nova Scotia. I feel validated."

Enns, who had been told of the Crown's move ahead of the
hearing, revealed the decision hours earlier to a group of
about 30 placard waving supporters in front of the provincial
courthouse in downtown Halifax.

WATCH: Marijuana advocate Chris Enns arrested, facing charges
following traffic stop

He said the withdrawal of the charges amounted to validation
for medical cannabis users and for providers.

"This is a clear indication from the Crown that they believe
there is merit to what we are doing, and there is a lack of
merit to the charges that were before the court," he told the
gathering. "It's an exciting day in Nova Scotia."

During the hearing, Enns' Vancouver-based lawyer, Kirk Tousaw,
said via speaker phone that his client would be seeking the
return of items seized in the raids that weren't related to
the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The Crown said it
would co-operate. Enns said he is seeking the return of items
that include cash and laptops, along with patient and
accounting records.

JCT: Chris did file my Quash Motion so he is also seeking the
Return of the pot even though the article only mentions return
of non-pot seized. And they did cave before he could put his
witnesses on the stand. It would have been quite the show. All
the Crown said was that the regime had now changed and they
didn't want to argue over something dead being defective.

This should help Shawn Tedder's Toronto Dispensary charges
coming up Jan 29. The Quash and the Constitutional. Wonder
what the Crown is going to do.

It was a gruelling ordeal for Chris and his patients. Now to
wait to see if they'll try to come at him again.