A break-in at a legal medical marijuana facility in Erin has neighbours concerned about safety.
A private meeting on March 3 at the municipal office between the neighbours and Mayor Allan Alls turned into an impromptu town meeting, with neighbours and the public raising concerns about the facility.
“The biggest issue is, nobody’s against medical marijuana … what they’re worried about is security,” said Alls after the meeting.
On Feb. 18 police responded to a break-in that was still in progress at the Sideroad 17 facility, eventually capturing and charging four individuals in connection with the crime.
Michael Medeiros, 23, Peter Rego, 19, Shayne Morasse, 26 and a 16-year-old from Brampton were charged with break and enter a dwelling house, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, possession of a loaded restricted firearm, possession of a firearm obtained by crime and disguise with intent.
Medeiros, Rego, and the unidentified teen were also charged with fail to comply with recognizance and Morasse was also charged with possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order.
The March 3 meeting, hosted by Alls, was attended by Wellington County OPP Inspector Scott Lawson, Sergeant Rob Smith and facility owner John Livingston.
Lawson, who spoke to the Advertiser the next day, said the OPP will be mindful of the business going forward.
“I reminded them that we will continue to be in the area and make sure that there aren’t any concerns,” said Lawson.
The facility has been in operation for approximately four years, but neither Alls nor Lawson knew it existed prior to the break-in last month.
“It’s a Health Canada endeavour, licensed and sanctioned under Health Canada. Because of the privacy concerns … they’re not obliged to tell anybody anything, including [police],” said Lawson.
Lawson added knowing about the facility probably would not have prevented the crime. “We can’t be everywhere, all the time. But I don’t think knowing in advance would have changed the outcome,” he said.
He added the rules about medical marijuana are changing, but at the moment producers are not required to let anyone know of their existence.
Yet Lawson said he isn’t too worried about that.
“For four years we were happily going about our business and no inclination that there was a concern, nor, obviously as it came up last night, nor did any of his neighbors,” he said.
However, facility neighbour Debi Clare refuted that sentiment in a letter to the town.
Clare stated she started noticing a “skunk smell” around the property last year. She could not attend the March 3 meeting but said she is concerned about the break-in.
“It was horrifying to hear this happened so close to home and in a residential area,” Clare wrote.
“I don’t believe these (facilities) should be allowed in residential areas.”
Alls said while the town prohibits medical marijuana facilities, “We can’t regulate what the federal government says they can do.”
Alls added last week’s meeting went well, but he wants to do more investigation into the regulations on medical marijuana facilities.
“I need to understand the regulations better than I do now,” he said.
