J. Randall Barrs Q.C.

The appellant operated a garden supply business and sold legal products to customers who used them in marijuana grow operations.

He was convicted of conspiracy to produce and traffic marijuana, as well as the substantive offences of production and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

On appeal, the Court of Appeal quashed the conspiracy convictions, holding that selling legal goods with knowledge of their intended illegal use does not make one a party to a conspiracy without a shared mutual objective.

However, the court upheld the substantive convictions on the basis that the appellant actually aided and abetted specific grow operations.

The Crown's appeal against the appellant's acquittal for money laundering was dismissed.