Montreal police launched raids Friday evening against illegal cannabis stores opened one day prior by the self-styled "Prince of Pot,'' Marc Emery, and his wife, Jodie.
Local television outlets broadcast images of police taking away Marc Emery outside one of his stores on Mount Royal in the Plateau neighbourhood.
As he was being led by officers into a patrol car, Emery flashed a peace sign with his fingers and said: "It's despicable and an injustice but we will win. The prime minister is a disgrace.''
Montreal Police investigator Stephen Verissimo said that all six Cannabis Culture stores which opened on Thursday were raided, and police seized cash and 40 pounds of marijuana.
Verissimo said police made ten arrests in total for drug possession and trafficking, and he reitererated that the possession of marijuana is illegal.
Two other stores which were expected to open Thursday but never did were not touched in the raids.
At the Mount Royal store, a stream of would-be customers passed by after the raid. One, Jamie Demers, said he was disappointed, and surprised how quickly police reacted.
"As far as I know, no one has ever died from weed and if I smoke I'm going to go kill a sandwich...but not tonight," he said.
"I didn't think they'd be this quick on it, I figure with the media and everything and all the exposure, they'd let it slide a little bit. But Montreal cops being Montreal cops, they have to ruin everybody's fun."
Another man, who just went by Francois, was hoping to purchase from the same dispensary. He said Montreal police didn't have their priorities in order.
"It's going to take money out of organized crime's hands. It's stupid, this is just a waste of time. Drunk people make a lot mroe problems than people who smoke a joint."
A few hours earlier, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters in Montreal "until we've changed the law, the current laws exist and apply.''
Ottawa is moving "properly and responsibly,'' to legalize marijuana, Trudeau said, but the current law governing cannabis will stand until new legislation is ratified.
"The reason we are legalizing and controlling marijuana is not for any other reason than to better protect our kids and to remove the black market, the criminal elements, organized crime, from profiting massively from the sale of cannabis,'' he said alongside Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard.
"We will get this done properly and responsibly because that is what Canadians expect us to do. . and until we have changed the law, the current laws apply.''
The pot boutiques opened in Montreal in the presence of Emery and Jodie.
Jodie Emery told a news conference at one of the stores at Thursday's opening that while they are illegal under current federal legislation, she hopes local authorities will leave them be.
Under store policy, anyone 19 and older will be able to buy marijuana, without membership or medical requirements.
The shops will pay taxes, employ locals and won't allow children inside.
Marc Emery was extradited in 2010 to the United States, where he pleaded guilty to selling marijuana seeds and was sentenced to five years in prison.
"Anyone who enforces this despicable law is indeed a despicable person, and I include politicians, elected officials, police authorities and anyone else who thinks we should be arrested,'' he said.
Ottawa is expected to table legislation in the spring to legalize marijuana, while a federal task force recommended earlier this week that sales be allowed to Canadians 18 years and older.