Apparently, a number of local folks were growing too much weed.
That’s the word from Chatham-Kent police and Health Canada as more than $26 million in marijuana was confiscated recently.
Agents from Health Canada did a compliance check June 24 on a licensed medical marijuana grow operation on Talbot Trail near Merlin and discovered that it was exploiting regulatory loopholes, significantly exceeding its authorized plant limits, according to a police media release.
A day later, C-K police searched the property. Police say the investigation resulted in the seizure of 2,765 cannabis plants, with an estimated street value of $2.765 million.
A 47-year-old man and a 39-year-old man, both from Merlin, are charged with cultivating, propagating, or harvesting cannabis plants derived from illicit seeds or plant material, in violation of the Cannabis Act.
The day after the arrests, police checked out two spots in Chatham, following referrals from Health Canada inspectors. The two buildings were licensed for four people to grow cannabis on site for personal medical use. The licences were for 438 plants.
However, police found 23,474 plants growing on these Patteson Avenue sites, with an estimated street value of $23.4 million.
Officers also secured various items related to the operations, including two vehicles.
Charges are anticipated in the coming weeks as the investigations continue, police say.
