Driving violations spark traffic stop, seizure of cannabis shatter and wax

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The products were not marked for sale in Canada or Alberta.

No seatbelt and yapping on a cellphone were more than enough to attract the attention of an Alberta RCMP traffic officer who stopped a driver and subsequently discovered weed products in the vehicle.

The stop occurred at about 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 8, according to CTV News. Tellingly, the officer was working a Safe Roads Enhanced Enforcement shift in Airdrie, Alta. at the time, per Airdrie Today.

After the vehicle was stopped, the patrol officer noticed the strong weed smell. That kicked off a vehicle search, as per the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act (GLCA), and the discovery of 52 Ziplock bags with 1,453 individually prepackaged bags of cannabis products.

Specifically, the officer seized 36 bags of cannabis, each containing 28 one-gram packages of cannabis shatter; 15 bags containing 28 vials of cannabis wax; and one bag containing 25 vials of cannabis wax.

None of the products reportedly were marked for sale in Canada or Alberta.

Under federal requirements, legal products must have plain packaging and labelling on all surfaces, including containers, wrappers and coverings. Products must also be “packaged in a child-resistant container and be labelled with the standardized cannabis symbol, the mandatory health warning message, and include specific product information,” Health Canada notes.

The driver has been charged with distracted driving, failing to wear a seatbelt, possession of cannabis not in accordance with the GLCA and having cannabis within reach of the driver.

“Cannabis must be in a sealed package and out of reach of all occupants of the vehicle,” according to the Edmonton Police Service (EPS).

“If you are pulled over for any reason, and police see cannabis stored improperly in your vehicle, you could be arrested and searched, and you could face a fine,” the EPS adds.

The driver is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 8.

Driving and traffic violations have proved a drug-infused windfall for police around the world. Breaches that ended with drivers on the wrong side of the law have included those seen talking on cellphones, speeding, stunt driving, not stopping at a weigh scale, having plates not associated with the vehicle and having an expired vehicle registration sticker.

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