Barrie Police have closed two illegal psilocybin dispensaries operating in the city’s downtown along Dunlop Street, following back-to-back enforcement actions last week.
On Thursday, July 3, and Friday, July 4, officers carried out operations at two separate storefronts — one in support of an eviction order, the other executed under a warrant.
Barrie Police Service Drug Unit members seized quantities of psilocybin, commonly known as magic mushrooms, removed all store signage, and laid drug-related charges against individuals involved.
In a news release, Barrie Police Chief Rich Johnston said closing the shops was a priority for police.
“We recognize that the community is concerned with the implications of these storefronts, and the Barrie Police Service is committed to ensuring that our downtown core remains a safe and welcoming place for all members of our community,” he said.
“With the support of the Barrie Police Service Board, and the city, we have made it a priority to close down these shops, and work towards eradicating them from our community.”
Mayor Alex Nuttall told Compass News that he is thankful for the closure of the shops by police. “I’m very thankful these illegal shops have been closed,” he said.
“This is something I have been calling for a while – the complete shutdown of these illegal drug shops. I applaud our fantastic police for stopping these illegal activities – they did great work.”
Before the shops were closed, Nuttall said he and his office had received complaints from residents and local business owners about illegal drug stores and their impact on the downtown area.
“I had many people bring this issue to me and my office, expressing concern about these shops,” he said.
“Seeing these shops removed is certainly something we are happy about — we want our downtown to be seen as a family-friendly place with no illegal drug dispensaries. I’m pleased with how this was handled by the police, and this is something that will continue to be encouraged and enforced.”
According to the news release from Barrie Police, whenever illegal drug shops emerge, police take action to seize products, make any arrests, and lay charges to stop the sale of unregulated and uninspected substances.
