Ontario's Police Raids, Illicit Dispensaries, and Precarious Labour.

Is it possible to begin a legal defence fund, perhaps contributed to by Canada's LPs as well (e.g. Canopy Growth Corp, Aurora, Tilray, etc.), to help these workers? I would be thrilled to hear from Canadians concerned for the welfare of Ontario's only brick-and-mortar cannabis retail workers.

- Clayton McCann MA, MFA, PhD Student & Cannabis Studies Research;
McMaster University, Department of Anthropology

On the line, I suspect, are the many other, now-illicit, dispensary workers, who may work without the protection of the law, and face similar consequences if raided. City of Hamilton By-law personnel have informed me that "over 30 illegal dispensaries have voluntarily closed their doors" in anticipation of garnering a license under the new regime. This means about 20 stores persist in operations. That could equate, easily, to over 100 wage workers in vulnerable labour positions. In Hamilton alone.

The real risk, however, is these kids are driven to the streets, to become members of street populations, after barriers to employment, housing, and social services result in zero options.

I'm deeply concerned for workers in illicit cannabis dispensaries (under Ontario's new Law, Bill 174) in the province, as police have begun raiding dispensaries here, and rounding up workers (see: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/hamilton-police-execute-warrant-georgia-peach-cannabis-dispensary-1.4880436). There are obviously risks in this unstable labour market, in cities with limited opportunities for young adults with minimal educational prospects. I have visited all Hamilton dispensaries, numerous times, and witnessed young adults seeking social mobility, some very marginalized already. These kids don't work in illicit cannabis because they're bad-asses, gang-bangers, or anarchists. They work there because they need the money.