The Cannabis Crusader handed over a trophy recognizing Prince Rupert RCMP for a six-month investigation into a business selling glass pipes, bongs and grinders.
Dana Larsen of Sensible BC, a group working toward decriminalizing possession of marijuana and preventing police from spending time or resources on possession cases, made a trip up north on June 27 to specifically address what he calls “harassment” by Prince Rupert RCMP against businesses selling pipes and bongs.
Larsen said he wanted to draw attention to what he calls a “waste of RCMP resources in a fun way”.
Larsen held a small gathering in front of the Prince Rupert detachment, when he handed over the trophy which read “award for the most time wasted, six months investigating bongs” to Prince Rupert RCMP.
“It's great that they've solved every other crime in Prince Rupert... and have nothing left to do,” he said.
“This is not where I think most British Columbians believe our police resources should be focused. It really underlines the need for legislative change in our province. That's what our Sensible BC campaign is all about.”
The same day Larsen dropped off the trophy, Prince Rupert RCMP provided additional information regarding the investigation into The Chad Smoke Shop.
A press release issued less than two hours after Larsen dropped off the trophy said the investigation was initiated after RCMP received numerous complaints from the public regarding merchandise and activities occurring at the business.
“Two separate complaints involved youth who required medical attention after ingesting a substance they received from the business,” Const. Matt Ericson, media relations officer for the Prince Rupert RCMP, said.
Information surrounding youth purchasing and ingesting substances from The Chad Smoke Shop was not released on June 13, when Prince Rupert RCMP informed the public they had executed a search warrant on the business on June 8 following a six-month investigation, and seized drug paraphernalia from The Chad Smoke Shop.
Chad Wentworth, CEO and owner of The Chad Smoke Shop, said the substance he believes RCMP are referring to was legal incense, which he said wasn't sold at the store for three months prior to police executing a search warrant.
“Health Canada sent out a letter recommending the sale of the items be stopped, so we took it off the shelf,” he said.
Wentworth claims underage individuals ingesting a substance purchased at the store was never mentioned in the search warrant executed by RCMP.
Since seizing items from The Chad's Smoke Shop, RCMP have reportedly entered two other Prince Rupert businesses selling smoking devices, informing management it is illegal to do so.
Larsen questioned why RCMP are warning other businesses about the legalities surrounding the sale of pipes and bongs if the police's issue with The Chad Smoke Shop was the sale of substances to youth that made them ill.
“They're changing their story [to cover up] their unpopular actions,” he said.
Requests for further information from Prince Rupert RCMP were not immediately returned, but Leslie Smith, RCMP media relations for the north district, said RCMP released new information about the investigation for clarification, adding RCMP do not generally release why they've launched an investigation.
~With files from Shaun Thomas