The update provided by RCMP on The Chad Smoke Shop raid leaves more questions than it provides answers.
In the original story, Const. Matt Ericson said this was an investigation the RCMP took on. Const. Ericson and I have spoken several times since, once he questioned something he felt was attributed to him that wasn't, and never once was the cause of the investigation a point of contention. At no point did he say I got it wrong - not when he read it online and not when it hit the streets. Why the sudden change?
Secondly, if this was related to youth ingesting a substance that caused them to be sick as the RCMP now claim, why wasn't the public told about it and why wasn't the substance named so others in the community can avoid it? One would think that a matter of public safety is something the public should be told about as it emerges, not almost 20 days after the initial warrant.
Third, and perhaps most importantly, if this raid had to do with an illicit drug being ingested by minors, why did the RCMP not only point to the section of the Criminal Code prohibiting the sale of such instruments but warn other businesses in town not to sell pipes and bongs? The sale of pipes and bongs has absolutely zero to do with the sale of substances that cause people to become ill. If these businesses weren't selling the substance in question, why did the RCMP talk to them and have them empty their shelfs?
Since the story about The Chad Smoke Shop surfaced, the Prince Rupert RCMP has taken its fair share of criticism from around the country where stores are free to sell pipes, bongs and grinders without RCMP interference. And, perhaps by coincidence, but not likely, the "clarification" came the same day as noted cannabis crusader Dana Larsen of Sensible BC flew to Prince Rupert to hand the detachment the "Biggest Waste of Police Time" trophy.
A few weeks ago I wrote something stunk about The Chad Smoke Shop raid. Something about this stinks just as bad.