The rate of crime in Ontario has been increasing and certain residents have resorted to robbing cannabis dispensaries to get some cash.
On Thursday evening around 7 pm local time, a High Tide Inc. (CVE: HITI) (NASDAQ: HITI) (FRA: 2LYA) Canna Cabana shop was mugged at gunpoint. The dispensary sits in a plaza in the city of Guelph on Woodlawn Road.
Four people were involved, one of which had a firearm. Another had a wooden claw hammer. Both weapons were used to intimidate the two female employees working at the counter.
They reported that a woman entered the shop, tried to make a purchase, and was denied because she did not have ID. She then got into a sedan outside that her cannabis bandit accomplices emerged from.
“My girlfriend was working at that time, three men of low IQ had entered while one woman acted as scout,” said Jason Metherel, boyfriend of one of the employees. “They proceeded to take a little over C$1,200 from the safe [less money than four people working a normal shift would make] and some product.”
“Three grown broke-ass men intimidated a couple women just trying to do their job.”
Thankfully, the Canna Cabana workers were not harmed. The suspects were driving a black Hyundai Motor Company GDR (OTCMKTS: HYMTF) Sonata with chrome rims on it. Guelph police are currently investigating the matter.
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Being a budtender in Ontario is risky business
Although some may think it is a chill line of employment to work at a dispensary, the job comes with a certain level of risk, particularly in Ontario.
In Brampton alone between Dec. 9 and Jan. 20, police reported a string of four robberies at multiple cannabis retail locations.
And in Windsor, cops arrested a suspect early this year and seized about C$3,000 worth of stolen marijuana merchandise. The 54-year-old man is suspected of involvement in a series of robberies where a truck was used to ram the entrance of pot shops in the city. Drivers then broke in and scooped up cannabis product in a hurry.
Ilija Josic faces multiple charges for his role in the series of petty heists.
“Like everyone in the sector, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is concerned by the series of recent robberies at cannabis retail stores in Ontario and the safety of store employees,” a commission representative told StratCann a couple of months ago.
rowan@mugglehead.com
Noble
March 24, 2025 at 10:01 am
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