Christopher Enns of Farm Assist medical marijuana lounge in court on drug charges

The owner of a medical marijuana lounge in north-end Halifax wantscannabis products seized in a police raid last year returned to him.

Christopher Enns, owner of Farm Assist Cannabis Resource Centre, was in Nova Scotia provincial court this morning to make the demand.

Police raided Farm Assist in early December. Enns and a couple of other people were arrested at the time. He's facing charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

"I'm legally, 100% authorized to provide cannabis for two individuals," Enns said outside court.

"Even if there's an argument that I'm not allowed to go outside of those two licensed individuals and provide to other medically authorized individuals, we at least need to get the return of the cannabis so that the two individuals that are suffering right now can access that cannabis."

A lawyer for the federal Attorney General was in court. The lawyer said Enns would have to provide notice in writing to request the return of the cannabis.

Judge Bill Digby asked the federal lawyer for assurances the cannabis product would not be destroyed before the matter is heard.

Judge Digby also asked Enns, who is representing himself, if he had any particular questions and knew the process he would have to follow going forward.

Digby said not everyone realizes "what a multi-headed monster the federal government is."

Enns said there's an urgent need to get the cannabis returned.

"One of our patients has a cancer diagnosis and at the end of the day they're using this not only to prevent symptoms but to prevent the onset or metastasis of their tumour and so dealing this as quick as possible is important," Enns said.

The case will be back in provincial court at the end of this month, at which time Enns will argue for the return of the cannabis and also announce how he wants the drug charges against him to proceed.