TORONTO 香蕉视频直播� Prominent marijuana activists Marc and Jodie Emery were charged with multiple drug-related offences in Toronto on Thursday after police in several cities raided pot dispensaries associated with the couple.

The self-styled 香蕉视频直播淧rince香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播淧rincess of Pot香蕉视频直播� were arrested at Toronto香蕉视频直播檚 Pearson International Airport on Wednesday evening. They appeared briefly in a courtroom on Thursday afternoon before police announced the full list of charges they faced.

Marc Emery faces 15 counts, including conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of proceeds of crime, while Jodie Emery is charged with five similar counts.

The couple香蕉视频直播檚 Toronto lawyer said his clients were expected to appear in court again on Friday.

香蕉视频直播淢y clients were uncertain of what they香蕉视频直播檇 been arrested for,香蕉视频直播� Jack Lloyd said outside court on Thursday. 香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e in good spirits 香蕉视频直播� but they香蕉视频直播檙e in custody, hopeful that we can have a productive bail hearing tomorrow.香蕉视频直播�

In Vancouver, another lawyer for the couple said they plan to fight the charges.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e been fighting this battle an awfully long time. And we香蕉视频直播檙e going to fight it right to the end. And I expect we香蕉视频直播檙e going to be victorious,香蕉视频直播� said Kirk Tousaw.

Jodie Emery mouthed the words 香蕉视频直播淚 love you香蕉视频直播� to her husband during the couple香蕉视频直播檚 brief court appearance and flashed a peace sign to supporters in the room before being admonished by the justice of the peace.

The Emerys own the Cannabis Culture brand, which is used by a chain of 19 marijuana dispensaries in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.

Toronto police spokesman Mark Pugash said seven Cannabis Culture locations 香蕉视频直播� five in Toronto, one in Hamilton and another in Vancouver 香蕉视频直播� were searched on Thursday along with two homes in Toronto, one in Stoney Creek, Ont., and one in Vancouver.

香蕉视频直播淥ur history of enforcing the law against illegal cannabis dispensaries is well established,香蕉视频直播� Pugash said. 香蕉视频直播淭his is the latest effort in our law enforcement, and I香蕉视频直播檓 certain there will be further action.香蕉视频直播�

In addition to the Emerys, police charged three other people on Thursday. Thirty-seven-year-old Chris Goodwin and 31-year-old Erin Goodwin, both of Toronto, and 29-year-old Britney Guerra of Stoney Creek face charges that include conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

The federal government is moving to legalize marijuana, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized late last year that the current laws exist.

The fact that the law still exists doesn香蕉视频直播檛 mean police and Crown prosecutors must enforce it, said Tousaw.

香蕉视频直播淎 lot of horrific things used to be legal. It香蕉视频直播檚 not a good excuse to deprive people of liberty that the law is the law. That simply does not work in a society that values justice over authoritarianism,香蕉视频直播� he said.

The federal justice minister could 香蕉视频直播渄eclare a ceasefire in the war on drugs香蕉视频直播� while legalization is brought in, he added.

Police forces across the country have been raiding pot shops in recent months and charging owners with trafficking-related offences.

A group of protesters gathered outside Cannabis Culture headquarters in Vancouver on Thursday afternoon, decrying the latest raids and the Emerys香蕉视频直播� arrest. Some smoked marijuana as they sat on the sidewalk in front of police officers who blocked the shop香蕉视频直播檚 entrance.

香蕉视频直播淭his is a move to attack Jodie and Marc Emery,香蕉视频直播� said Danny Kresnyak, editor of Cannabis Culture magazine. 香蕉视频直播淚t has nothing to do with protecting the children or keeping it out the hands of organized crime or anything else that they香蕉视频直播檙e saying in their statements.香蕉视频直播�

Federal Health Minister Jane Philpott said Thursday that the federal government remains committed to introducing legislation on the matter in the spring but noted that it would have to go through a rigorous parliamentary and regulatory process.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a firm commitment of our government to legalize access to cannabis, to regulate that access and to restrict it appropriately,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淲e want to make sure this is done properly and people need to recognize it will take some time but it will be done.香蕉视频直播�

But British Columbia香蕉视频直播檚 public safety minister, Mike Morris, said he is concerned about public confusion surrounding marijuana.

香蕉视频直播淭he sooner the feds come out with the legislation, the sooner we can get on with determining what direction we need to go,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Marc Emery was previously arrested at one of his new Montreal dispensaries in December and charged with drug trafficking. 1

香蕉视频直播� Peter Cameron, with files from Liam Casey in Toronto, Gemma Karstens-Smith in Vancouver and Dirk Meissner in Victoria.