A popular chain of Winnipeg shops specializing in marijuana paraphernalia was raided by the police on Wednesday.

All three outlets of The Joint were closed while officers loaded merchandise into U-Haul trucks.

"They came in with a lot of cars,” said Brian Tavares, who works at a Halal food store next to The Joint on Pembina Highway.“There were cars and trucks on the side and they backed up a U-Haul truck as well."

A representative of the store said the RCMP is investigating a copyright complaint originating with one of their suppliers, and that no one has been arrested.

The investigation threw a wrench in Keenan Ennis' plans. "I was hoping to drop off a resume,” he said. “I figured this would be a good place to work and I need a job right now."

The store specializes in marijuana accessories like rolling papers, pipes and bongs. Ennis doesn't see anything wrong with that.

"It just seems like a regular business. They're selling bongs. Everybody's got to make a living. That's all it seems like to me."

Tavares doesn’t share Ennis’ carefree attitude. "We can smell pot from them," he said.

Tavares said the police arrived quickly in multiple vehicles and surrounded the store. "One of the workers that was there, they had him in the police car and then released him after.”

He doesn't know why the police chose to raid the store now, after more than four years in business, but said he was happy to see it. “We've had a few run-ins with them," he said.

Others said they're not so sure the store should have been targeted.

"Whether it be a pipe to smoke tobacco or marijuana, whatever it may be, they're still legal to sell bongs, papers, all that kind of stuff,” said Dillon Svitan.“So as long as they're not selling marijuana, which is obviously illegal, I don't see why they shouldn't be able to."

RCMP have not said anything about the raids or the investigation that led to them. They said they will be releasing information tomorrow.

The store owners said they are confident they will be able to reopen, but they don’t know exactly when.

- With a report by Ben Miljure